Overview
The complainant (Miss C) complained about the care and treatment provided to her cousin (Miss A) by a medical practice (the Practice) before she died from liver cancer on 28 June 2010. The Practice had carried out a large number of liver function tests on Miss A from May 2004 onwards. These showed that her GGT (Gamma-glutamyltransferase a liver enzyme) levels were high. Miss C complained about the lack of action taken by the Practice in response to the raised GGT levels.
Specific complaint and conclusion
The complaint which has been investigated is that the Practice failed or delayed to act on Miss A's abnormal test results (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Practice:
- (i) write to Miss C to apologise for the failure to investigate Miss A's abnormal GGT results; and
- (ii) take steps to ensure that in future they investigate cases where the patient has a persistently high GGT level to try to establish the cause.
The Practice have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.