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Case ref:201900596
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Date:July 2020
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Body:Grampian NHS Board
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Sector:Health
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Outcome:Upheld, no recommendations
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Subject:appointments / admissions (delay / cancellation / waiting lists)
Summary
Ms C complained that the board delayed in arranging the surgery she needed. She was entered onto the list for surgery at a gynaecology (medicine of the female genital tract and its disorders) out-patient clinic, but said that she was told months later that they were only carrying out surgery for patients entered onto the list in the previous year. She decided that she could not wait for the surgery and had it privately.
We took independent advice from a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist (a doctor who specialises in the female reproductive system, pregnancy and childbirth). We found that there had been a delay in arranging the surgery and we upheld the complaint. However, we also considered that the action the board were taking to reduce waiting times was reasonable. This included addressing their referral pathways and seeking to increase their consultant capacity. In addition, the board had apologised to Ms C that they had failed to meet the treatment time guarantee. When the board had received contact from Ms C's GP about the delay, they had acted on this quickly and a plan for escalation was commenced. We did not, therefore, recommend that Ms C was reimbursed for the costs of the operation, as we were unable to conclude that Ms C had no option but to arrange treatment privately. We did not make any recommendations to the board in relation to Ms C's complaint.