Overview
The complainant (Ms C) raised a number of concerns that a GP from her mother (Mrs A)'s GP Practice (the Practice) and a consultant psychiatrist working for Fife NHS Board (the Board) prescribed anti-depressants and anti-psychotics to her mother without adequate assessment and had failed to report concerns about potential unprofessional conduct of a nurse to the appropriate organisation.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) the Practice unreasonably prescribed anti-depressants to Mrs A based on information from a third party (not upheld);
- (b) the Practice unreasonably changed a routine psychiatric referral to an urgent referral based on information from a third party (not upheld);
- (c) the Practice failed to refer the actions of another health professional, which they knew had given rise to professional concern, to the appropriate authority (upheld);
- (d) the Board unreasonably prescribed medication to Mrs A based on information from a third party (not upheld); and
- (e) the Board failed to refer the actions of a health professional, which had given rise to professional concern, to the appropriate authority (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
There are no recommendations in respect of the Practice.
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board take steps to remind all clinical staff, including Primary Care staff and Family Health Service providers in the Board area, of their professional duty to act when they have a concern about the fitness to practise of a health professional.
The Board have accepted the recommendation and will act on it accordingly.