Overview
The complainants (Mr and Mrs C) raised a number of concerns that, during four attendances at Ninewells Hospital (Hospital 1) during July and August 2007, Tayside NHS Board (the Board) had not taken their concerns for the health of their infant daughter (Child C) seriously, that Child C had not been adequately examined and that her condition had not been investigated appropriately. They were also concerned that the Board's handling of their subsequent complaints was not adequate due to the time taken to respond to the complaints. They also felt the quality of the review the Board undertook was poor and the Board's conclusion that there had been a change in Child C's clinical condition, following her final attendance at Hospital 1, was not supported by the written evidence. Following Child C's final attendance, the Board sent a letter to Child C's GP. Mr and Mrs C complained that this letter contained inaccurate and unnecessary comments, and that sending it was inappropriate.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) the Board did not appropriately examine, diagnose and treat Child C at four attendances in July and August 2007 (partially upheld to the extent that further investigations of Child C's condition should have been undertaken in August 2007 and she should have been admitted on 16 August 2007);
- (b) the Board did not respond appropriately to Mr and Mrs C's complaint of 24 August 2007 (partially upheld to the extent that the Board's conclusion that there had been a change in Child C's clinical condition, following her final attendance at Hospital 1, was not supported by the available written evidence); and
- (c) the Board's letter of 3 September 2007 to Child C's GP was inappropriate in the circumstances (not upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board:
- (i) apologise to Mr and Mrs C that further investigations of Child C's condition were not undertaken and that she was not admitted on 16 August 2007;
- (ii) review the decision-making in this case with the appropriate Board staff at their next appraisals; and
- (iii) apologise to Mr and Mrs C that the conclusion that Child C's clinical condition had changed between 16 August 2007 and 17 August 2007 was not supported by the available written evidence.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.