Decision Report 201708674

  • Case ref:
    201708674
  • Date:
    July 2018
  • Body:
    A Medical Practice in the Lanarkshire NHS Board area
  • Sector:
    Health
  • Outcome:
    Not upheld, no recommendations
  • Subject:
    clinical treatment / diagnosis

Summary

Mrs C attended the practice with symptoms of a hoarse voice, burning and tightness in her chest, decreasing over five days. Mrs C explained to the practice that she was due to go on holiday in three days and queried whether she was fit for travel. The doctor considered that she was suffering from a viral infection, recommended fluids and paracetamol and considered her to be fit for travel. However, in the following days her condition worsened, causing her to attend a hospital's emergency department who prescribed antibiotics. Mrs C was still unwell when her holiday commenced. Mrs C complained that the practice had not provided her with reasonable treatment, which caused her to be unwell on her holiday.

We took independent advice from a GP. Based on the information available at the time, we considered that the practice provided a reasonable standard of medical treatment and that the practice could not have foreseen that Mrs C's condition would worsen, impacting on her holiday. Therefore, we did not uphold the complaint.

Updated: December 2, 2018