Investigation Report 200602580

  • Report no:
    200602580
  • Date:
    March 2008
  • Body:
    Tayside NHS Board
  • Sector:
    Health

Overview

The complainant (Ms C) suffered shoulder pain following a fall at home on 3 January 2006.  She attended Accident and Emergency (A&E) at Ninewells Hospital.  Examination of her shoulder revealed no new injuries and she was allowed to return home on the basis that a pre-existing frozen shoulder was the root cause.  Ms C said that she continued to experience a great deal of pain despite ongoing treatment for her frozen shoulder.  An x-ray in May 2006 showed that she had fractured her humerus.  Ms C complained that an x-ray should have been taken during her A&E attendance on 3 January 2006.  She felt that failure to take an x-ray prolonged her pain and delayed the operation that she required to repair her humerus.

Specific complaints and conclusions

The complaints which have been investigated are that Tayside NHS Board:

  • (a) failed to properly diagnose and treat Ms C's painful shoulder (not upheld); and
  • (b) failed to provide emergency treatment to Ms C upon her arrival at A&E (not upheld).

Redress and recommendations

The Ombudsman has no recommendations to make.

Updated: December 11, 2018