Overview
The complainant (Mr C) raised a number of concerns about a lack of physiotherapy assessment, provision and follow-up as well as the quality of the in-patient care provided and the overall discharge planning by Tayside NHS Board (the Board) following his late mother (Mrs A)'s admission to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee on 17 February 2006. Mr C was also dissatisfied with the Board's responses to his concerns which he considered to be deliberately confusing and contradictory. Mr C considered that these many failures had hastened his mother's death.
Specific complaint and conclusion
The complaint which has been investigated is that the Board failed to properly assess and provide appropriate care and treatment to Mrs A (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board:
- (i) reflect on the failures identified by the advisers in the management of Mrs A as part of the on-going reviews already being undertaken by the Board;
- (ii) monitor compliance with the revised template for the discharge letter as part of the existing review of record-keeping; and
- (iii) review the Guidelines for (physiotherapy) Referrals and consider specifically how it impacts on those discharged to a nursing home (particularly in light of the advisers' comments that this appears to be discriminating against such patients).
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.