Overview
The complainant (Mr C) was concerned that he had to wait two years for an operation to remove a benign acoustic neuroma (a tumour which develops on the eighth cranial/hearing nerve), which he felt was an unacceptable amount of time. He was also concerned that no follow-up or review had been conducted within those two years.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) Mr C had to wait two years for an operation to remove a benign acoustic neuroma (upheld); and
- (b) Mr C was seen only once by a consultant, in October 2005, and received no follow-up or review of his condition after that (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Board:
- (i) apologise to Mr C for their failure to arrange his surgery in a reasonable timescale and for the anxiety and distress this will have caused; and
- (ii) apologise to Mr C for their failure to arrange a review of his condition and for the anxiety and distress this will have caused.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.