Overview
The complainant (Mr C) raised a number of concerns about the care and treatment provided by Tayside NHS Board (the Board) to his father (Mr A) in the months before his death in October 2007. Mr C also complained about delays in diagnoses and treatment of Mr A and the handling of his complaint about these matters.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that the Board:
- (a) delayed in diagnosing Mr A (upheld);
- (b) failed to provide timely treatment following diagnosis (not upheld);
- (c) did not provide adequate care to Mr A in the respiratory ward (the Ward) of Ninewells Hospital, Dundee (upheld); and
- (d) failed to handle Mr C's complaint appropriately (not upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board:
- (i) ask the consultant responsible for Mr A's care in the Ward to apologise to Mr C for any contribution he may have made to the misunderstanding with Mr A about visiting him on 28 September 2007;
- (ii) apologise to Mr C for the failure to provide adequate care to Mr A as identified in this report; and
- (iii) review the current arrangements for selecting patients for consultant out of hours review, including processes for communication and handover between doctors.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.