Overview
The complaint concerned the actions of two district nurses at a home visit. The complaint was that the nurses failed to adequately assess the patient or arrange for a hospital admission.
Specific complaint and conclusion
The complaint which has been investigated is that there was failure to adequately assess Mrs C’s medical condition or admit her to hospital (upheld).
Redress and recommendation
The Ombudsman recommends that the Division ensures that the two district nurses receive training in the appropriate actions to be taken in such cases and in the importance of record keeping as identified by the Adviser. Such record keeping is not only important in itself but is crucial to the delivery of appropriate care. They should be given the opportunity to reflect on the lessons to be learned from this case with a clinical supervisor and specifically to consider when to seek medical advice in the future.
The Division have accepted the recommendation in full.