Overview
The complainant (Ms C), who is an advice caseworker, raised a number of concerns on behalf of her client (Ms A), about the treatment which Ms A had received at the Department of Urogynaecology at the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow (the Department). Ms A had undergone surgery in 2007 and since then has suffered with incontinence, urinary infections, loss of lower body sensation, vaginal discharge and severe pain.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) proper informed consent was not obtained prior to surgery (upheld);
- (b) the clinical treatment which was provided was inadequate (not upheld); and
- (c) following surgery, staff failed to take prompt action to establish the cause of Ms A's concerns (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board (the Board):
- (i) review their consent process, to ensure that patients have enough time to digest the information provided by staff and in information leaflets and that sufficient space is available on the consent forms to list what has been discussed;
- (ii) share this report with the staff involved and ask them to reflect on the advisers' comments about considering alternative procedures prior to surgery; and
- (iii) apologise to Ms A for the failings which have been identified in this report.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.