Overview
The complainant (Mrs C) raised concerns on behalf of her mother (Mrs A) regarding the treatment that she received from Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board (the Board). Mrs A attended Victoria Hospital (the Hospital) after breaking her ankle. She was treated for this but subsequently experienced severe pain and blistering around the ankle. Mrs A was later found to have a second fracture, which had previously been undetected. Mrs C complained about the Board's failure to diagnose the second fracture and about the initial treatment that Mrs A received, which she believed caused her blistering.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) the Board failed to diagnose Mrs A's os calcis fracture in good time (upheld);
- (b) the Board's treatment of Mrs A's broken ankle was inappropriate (upheld); and
- (c) the Board's complaint handling was poor (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board:
- (i) present Mrs A's case and this report's findings to Orthopaedic, A&E and complaint handling staff at a suitable staff forum, such as a mortality and morbidity meeting;
- (ii) review their procedures for assessing patients' suitability for discharge to ensure that social and medical considerations are given the appropriate consideration; and
- (iii) consider providing further training to staff on patient discharge eligibility assessment.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act upon them accordingly.