Sitemap
Ally McGilvray • Published 3 Aug 2010 13:58
0 Comments
HEALTH chiefs in the Borders have been forced to apologise to the family of a patient who later died after they failed to diagnose her condition - despite visiting hospital twice.
The patient, who is known only as Mrs A, was referred to Borders General Hospital by her GP after she developed a swollen leg in December 2008.
She had a history of cancer with complications caused by deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
However, she was seen by a junior doctor and did not receive a firm diagnosis.
Mrs A's leg continued to cause her problems and she returned to her general medical practice and her GP referred her back to hospital again a few days later.
This time, an ultrasound scan was taken and the cause of the swelling was found to be DVT.
An advice worker, referred to only as Ms C, complained on Mrs A's behalf. She claimed the doctor failed to examine and assess her appropriately and the management of her care and treatment was inadequate.
The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, which investigated the case, upheld both complaints and ordered the local health board to review the supervision of junior doctors at the BGH.
Reporting on the case this week, Ombudsman Jim Martin said: "After taking advice from my medical adviser I upheld both of these complaints, as although it seemed that the doctor treated Mrs A appropriately, the lack of information in her medical notes gave me cause for concern and the evidence I saw suggested that the doctor had not examined Mrs A's leg directly.
"I was also concerned that a consultant did not review Mrs A, and my adviser pointed out that clinicians did not appear to engage in critical clinical thinking to establish what the cause of the swelling could be, if it was not DVT.
"I recommended that the Board review the adequacy of the supervision of junior doctors; share my report with the doctor concerned; ensure he discusses it with his current clinical supervisor; and that the discussion is filed in his training logbook."
But he added: "Mrs A died before my report was issued and I also recommended that the Board apologise to her family for the failings I have identified."
The local health board confirmed it had accepted the Ombudsman's recommendations and would act on them accordingly.
Calum Campbell, Chief Executive of NHS Borders said: "NHS Borders has accepted the recommendations made by the Ombudsman and an action plan has been developed to take forward the recommendations in the report and improve our service in the future."
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
Other Stories
You may have missed
Your social, local Business Directory - It's in the Borders | It's in The Directory | Directory Network
Copyright ©2012 Forth Weekly Press, Channel Street Galashiels TD1 1BN • Tel: 01896 758395 • Fax: 01896 759395
