Mid Scotland and Fife

Perth and Kinross Council

On 25 April 2005 the Ombudsman received a complaint from Mrs C about the care and treatment provided to her father (Mr F) by Fife NHS Board. Mrs C complained that the Board had not carried out a proper medical assessment of Mr F's condition and had prescribed inappropriate medication. Mrs C said that her father's medication was changed to a drug which could be injurious to his health and which, given his medical history, had the potential to be fatal.

This complaint was from a Mr C felt that there was an unreasonable delay in diagnosing his wife’s cancer; and that her postoperative management was inadequate.

The complaint provided by Mr C was that in November 2000 his mother, Mrs C, had a blood test arranged by GP 1 which indicated a slight abnormality in her kidney function. She had a history of hypertension and leg oedema. No monitoring or follow up tests were arranged. Mrs C did not see a GP again until 17 July 2002 when a home visit from GP 2 was arranged. A blood sample was taken and the results showned an abnormality. On GP 2's advice, Mrs C stopped taking her medication and further blood tests were aranged. On 23 July another home visit was requested. Another GP (GP 3) attended and arranged an emergency admission to hospital for Mrs C. She died in hospital later that day.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

The complainant is the former owner of a substantial detached house and farm steading buildings in a rural part of the Council’s area. Prior to marketing his property, Mr C commissioned an architectural practice to obtain planning consent on his behalf for demolition of some existing buildings and residential development in the farm courtyard area. The complaint made by The Practice on Mr C’s behalf is that salient information was omitted in a written response to a pre-application planning enquiry and that Mr C incurred substantial abortive costs in design fees and that the planning application fee was also lost when Mr C decided that the application should be withdrawn.

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Falkirk Council

Following the death of his wife in hospital, Mr G complained to Mrs G’s GP about the care and treatment provided to his wife by the Practice. Mr G was dissatisfied with the responses he received and requested an independent review. The Convener refused an independent review on the grounds that the complaint had been thoroughly and fairly dealt with through local resolution.