Overview
The complainant raised a number of concerns about the care and treatment of an 80-year-old woman (Mrs A), on behalf of Mrs A's son. Mrs A was admitted to the Royal Alexandra Hospital (the Hospital), in the area of Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board (the Board), in September 2006 with stomach pain and constipation. The complainant said the admission should have been made several days earlier and that the inadequate treatment received in the Hospital might have contributed to Mrs A's death later that month in the Hospital.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) out-of-hours doctors should have admitted Mrs A to the Hospital earlier (not upheld);
- (b) Mrs A's care and treatment in the Hospital were inadequate (upheld); and
- (c) the Board lost some of Mrs A's medical records (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board:
- (i) ensure that all appropriate healthcare professionals in the Board's hospitals are made aware of the appropriate management of constipation in older people; and
- (ii) reflect on the lessons learnt from this complaint and take appropriate action to help avoid a recurrence.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.