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Decision Report 201800345

  • Case ref:
    201800345
  • Date:
    July 2020
  • Body:
    Lanarkshire NHS Board
  • Sector:
    Health
  • Outcome:
    Not upheld, no recommendations
  • Subject:
    clinical treatment / diagnosis

Summary

Mrs C complained to us on behalf of her late son (Mr A). Mr A was admitted to University Hospital Monklands for surgery to treat perianal abscesses (a collection of pus or infected fluid near the anus). Mr A was discharged home and received visits from district nurses to check his surgical wounds. Mr A began to feel unwell and he died a few days after his discharge home.

Mrs C complained that Mr A did not receive reasonable care and treatment in the hospital and that district nurses failed to recognise Mr A was seriously unwell.

We took independent advice from a colorectal surgeon (a surgeon who specialises in conditions in the colon, rectum or anus) and a nurse. We found that the care and treatment Mr A received in the hospital was reasonable and there was no indication Mr A should not be discharged home. We found no evidence that district nurses were aware that Mr A was feeling unwell. Therefore, we did not uphold the complaint.

Updated: July 22, 2020