Overview
The complainant (Ms C) raised a number of concerns that her spinal injury was not properly assessed by staff at the emergency department and that a log roll was performed improperly leading to further injuries, and that there were further unreasonable delays by staff at the orthopaedic ward she was admitted to in fully investigating and identifying her spinal injury.
Specific complaint and conclusion
The complaint which has been investigated is that Stirling Royal Infirmary's identification and treatment in mid-June 2011 of Ms C’s spinal injuries were below a reasonable standard (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board:
(i) carry out an audit of the standard of their trauma management;
(ii) ensure that the findings of National confidential enquiry into patient outcome and health report Trauma who cares? are implemented and amend their protocol accordingly, in particular to ensure that senior emergency department doctors will be available to initially assess and provide on-going advice for all victims of trauma;
(iii) review the actions of Consultant 1 in light of this report and take appropriate action; and
(iv) make a further formal apology to Ms C for the failures identified.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.