Decision Report 201508030

Summary

Mr C complained that he was not prescribed medication to treat high blood pressure and that during a home visit a GP did not diagnose a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his leg.

Mr C had a knee replacement operation in December 2014 and requested a home visit in January 2015 as he was suffering from pain and swelling in his leg. A GP attended and examined Mr C's leg but did not find any obvious signs of DVT. A week later, Mr C had a post-operative check on his leg and the DVT was discovered and he was admitted to hospital for treatment.

Our investigation included taking independent advice from a medical adviser who was of the view that the examination carried out by the GP was appropriate and that there were no recorded signs that would have suggested DVT. The adviser stated that DVTs can develop over time and that the signs are difficult to identify in the early stages. We did not uphold this aspect of the complaint.

Following his treatment for the DVT Mr C was referred to the anti-coagulation clinic to monitor his blood, and he was prescribed Warfarin (an anti-coagulation medication) to reduce the risk of further clots for six months. During this time Mr C stopped taking the medication to treat his high blood pressure. When he was advised by the clinic to stop taking the Warfarin, Mr C requested a prescription for his blood pressure medication from the GP which he stated was not provided for seven days. The records showed that the prescription was issued on the day it was requested and we did not uphold this aspect of the complaint.