Decision Report 202406679

Summary

C complained about the care and treatment that they received from the board. In particular, C complained that the board had failed to recognise or timeously act on the significance of the severity of their pain and abdominal symptoms. C later received emergency surgery in treatment of a ruptured caecum including formation of a stoma.

We took independent advice from an obstetric adviser and a general surgery adviser.

We found that C’s care had been reasonably managed in relation to their discharge from obstetrics and their re-admission when symptoms continued. We considered that the plan made for surgery was reasonable, noting the rare and rapidly progressing nature of the complication C experienced. We also considered the board’s own review of the episode of care was reasonable.

We found that there were aspects of C’s care which were unreasonably managed, specifically, that there were incomplete medical records kept following a surgical review. On balance, we considered the standard of care provided to C was reasonable. We did not uphold this complaint.