Overview
The complainant (Mrs C) raised a number of concerns that her late father (Mr A) had not received adequate treatment from Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board (the Board) after being admitted to Ayr Hospital on 11 November 2005. Mr A was transferred to Ayrshire Central Hospital (Hospital 2) on 20 December 2005, but died there on 27 December 2005.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) Mr A was catheterised without his consent (upheld);
- (b) a consultant decided not to artificially hydrate Mr A (upheld);
- (c) the Board inappropriately transferred Mr A to Hospital 2 (upheld); and
- (d) the Board failed to communicate effectively with Mr A's family (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board:
- (i) apologise to Mrs C for the failure to record that verbal consent to insert the catheter had been obtained from Mr A and the failure to adhere to the General Medical Council's guidance regarding the decision not to artificially hydrate Mr A;
- (ii) review the guidelines for catheterisation in order that they make explicit reference to recording that verbal consent has been obtained;
- (iii) take steps to ensure that staff adhere to the General Medical Council's guidance when they consider withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging treatments, by involving the patient (or those close to the patient where the patient's wishes cannot be determined) in the decision making. Details of the decision taken should be clearly recorded in the medical records; and
- (iv) review Mr A's case in order to establish if there are any lessons that can be learned regarding the transfer of patients to other hospitals.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.