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Case ref:201802106
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Date:December 2018
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Body:Lothian NHS Board - Acute Division
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Sector:Health
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Outcome:Not upheld, no recommendations
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Subject:clinical treatment / diagnosis
Summary
Mr C complained about the lack of treatment which he received at St John's hospital. He had been referred to the mental health service by his GP for an assessment. Mr C complained that the board failed to carry out appropriate mental health assessments. He was also dissatisfied that the board would not arrange a further medical opinion.
We took independent advice from a consultant psychiatrist (a specialist in the diagnoses and treatment of mental illness). We found that Mr C was seen on two occasions by a doctor in training who discussed Mr C with a supervising consultant psychiatrist. There was evidence that thorough assessments were carried out on both occasions which resulted in a reasonable management plan. Mr C was then assessed by another consultant psychiatrist, who again carried out an appropriate assessment in view of Mr C's reported symptoms. The clinicians reasonably concluded that Mr C was not suffering from a diagnosable mental health disorder. We considered the assessments to be reasonable and did not uphold this aspect of Mr C's complaint.
In relation to a further medical opinion, we noted that Mr C had been assessed twice by a trainee doctor, under supervision of a consultant psychiatrist, and also by an additional consultant psychiatrist. Therefore, we found that it was not unreasonable that the board did not offer Mr C a further medical opinion. We did not uphold this aspect of Mr C's complaint.