Overview
The complainant (Mrs C) complained about the care and treatment provided to her sister (Ms A), who had a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, after she was admitted to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital (Hospital 1) in September 2010. Mrs C was also unhappy with Lothian NHS Board's (the Board) responses to her complaints.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) Ms A did not receive appropriate care and treatment from Hospital 1 during the period 13 September 2010 to 7 October 2010 (upheld); and
- (b) the Board have failed to provide satisfactory answers to Mrs C's questions about the matter (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board:
- (i) undertake an external peer review in Hospital 1, to include: the assessment of patients on admission; care-planning practice; the completion of risk management plans and proformas; and communication with the named person and relatives and their involvement and participation in decision-making. Practices in these areas should be audited against relevant professional body expectations; national standards, policies and codes of practice; and existing local policy intentions;
- (ii) provide him with details of the findings and the action plan created as a result of the above recommendation;
- (iii) ensure that the findings in this report are communicated to the staff involved in Ms A's care and treatment; and
- (iv) apologise to Mrs C and Ms A for the failures identified in this report.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.