Decision Report 201501199

Summary

Mrs C had a hysterectomy (surgery to remove the womb) for a fibroid uterus at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. She said she then suffered an infection, was in severe pain, and had bladder problems. Mrs C was discharged home and later visited her GP who gave antibiotics for a urine infection. The following month, Mrs C attended a follow-up appointment at the hospital and was diagnosed with a vesico-vaginal fistula (an abnormal opening connecting the vagina to the urinary tract). She had to have further surgery to repair it. She was dissatisfied with her treatment and that a fistula had occurred, which had a very detrimental effect on many aspects of her life. Mrs C complained that the fact that she had suffered a vesico-vaginal fistula should have been discovered while she was an in-patient, and she should not have been discharged given her condition.

We took independent advice from a medical adviser. We found that the post-operative care and treatment provided was reasonable, as was the decision to discharge Mrs C, and that it was also reasonable to assume that the fistula developed as a later complication.