Overview
The complainant (Ms C) complained about the care and treatment her client (Ms A) received while she was a patient at Crosshouse Hospital (Hospital 2).
Specific complains and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) when Ms A was admitted as an emergency to Hospital 2 on 17 December 2007, there was a delay in performing surgery to remove a dermoid ovarian cyst (upheld);
- (b) there was a failure to inform Ms A of the removal of her right ovary and tube until 20 December 2007 - the day after her surgery (upheld);
- (c) there was a failure to take into account Ms A's description of the pain she was suffering while she was an out-patient (not upheld); and
- (d) when Ms A was a patient in Ward 6 of Hospital 2 she was sometimes forgotten about (not upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board (the Board):
- (i) apologise to Ms A for the delay in undertaking her surgery and take steps to ensure that such delays do not recur;
- (ii) inform the Ombudsman of the measures being undertaken to address the issues raised; and
- (iii) take steps to ensure delays in communicating the results of surgery to patients do not recur.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.