Overview
The complainant, Mrs C raised a number of concerns about the way in which her husband (Mr C) was cared for and treated while he was a patient in Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) there was a lack of urgency and avoidable delays in investigating Mr C's condition and providing him with a definitive diagnosis (upheld);
- (b) there were avoidable delays in chasing up test results from Royal Infirmary Edinburgh following Mr C's mediastinoscopy on 15 March 2010 (upheld);
- (c) there was unnecessary delay in referring Mr C to the Western General Hospital (not upheld);
- (d) it was unnecessary and inappropriate to move Mr C so often (upheld); and
- (e) staff attitude was unreasonable (not upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that Fife NHS Board (the Board):
- (i) apologise to Mrs C for their delays in this matter;
- (ii) arrange for the Urology MDT cancer network to review this case and act upon any recommendations made;
- (iii) look at their monitoring and follow-up procedures with a view to making them more robust;
- (iv) formally apologise to Mrs C for moving Mr C 13/14 June 2010; and
- (v) consider their own bed transfer policy and practice with regard to the findings of this part of the complaint and to ensure that they are appropriate.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.