Overview
The complainant (Miss C) raised a number of concerns that in August 2010, the Board failed to properly identify her late father (Mr A)'s health complications, provide adequate post-operative nursing care and failed to communicate with her about his care.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) medical staff failed to properly identify health complications leading to Mr A's death (upheld);
- (b) Mr A did not receive adequate nursing care post-operatively on 18 and 19 August 2010 (upheld); and
- (c) nursing staff failed to communicate adequately with Miss C regarding Mr A's care (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board:
- (i) provide evidence of the measures in place to address the failures identified within this report in the MEWS system;
- (ii) confirm to the Ombudsman that they will raise this report with the junior doctor in their annual appraisal;
- (iii) bring this report to the attention of the relevant staff; and
- (iv) apologise to Miss C for the failures identified.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.