Overview
The complainant (Mrs C) raised a number of concerns over the care and treatment her late brother (Mr A) received from Lanarkshire NHS Board (the Board) following his admission to Monklands Hospital on 27 February 2013. Mr A was admitted with swallowing difficulties and died on 22 March 2013.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are:
- the Board provided inadequate care and treatment to Mr A (upheld); and
- there were unreasonable delays in care and treatment (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board:
- review their results 'sign off' process at ward level to ensure all results are reviewed before filing;
- conduct a review of their complaints handling to analyse why this result from another health board was not identified as part of their investigation;
- apologise to Mrs C for the failure to diagnose Mr A properly, particularly with the information available from the blood test reported upon after his death; and
- investigate the delay in the time from referral to review by the neurologist and provide staff with advice about how to obtain specialist neurological advice for patients such as Mr A, when a consultant review may be delayed.