Investigation Report S.9_02-03

The account of the complaint provided by Mr R junior was that on 22 March 2001 his father Mr R, aged 90, was admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary (the hospital) with a history of vomiting and diarrhoea. This resolved and he was discharged on 30 March. On 1 April Mr R was readmitted (to a different ward of the hospital) with diarrhoea and dehydration. He was diagnosed as having a clinical infection caused by Clostridium difficile but attempts to control this by the use of metronidazole (Flagyl - an antibiotic) failed. It was decided to change his treatment to vancomycin. This was prescribed on 20 April and Mr R junior was told it had to be made up specially by the hospital pharmacy which caused a delay. Mr R died during the early morning on 21 April.