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Case ref:201904055
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Date:March 2020
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Body:A Medical Practice in the Lothian NHS Board area
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Sector:Health
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Outcome:Not upheld, no recommendations
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Subject:clinical treatment / diagnosis
Summary
Mrs C complained about the failure of the practice to refer her late father (Mr A) to hospital skin specialists for investigation of a lesion on his forehead. By the time a referral was made, it was too late to attempt surgery and palliative care was instigated. Mr A had a previous history of skin cancer and Mrs C felt that an early and urgent referral to the skin specialists should have been made. We took independent medical advice from a GP. We found that it was not unreasonable for the practice to have thought that Mr A had a cyst and that it was appropriate to transfer his care to district nursing staff in order that they could dress the wound. When the district nurses requested antibiotics the practice made out an appropriate prescription. It appeared that there was a change in the appearance of the lesion after Mr C had been seen by the practice. We did not uphold the complaint.