Ms A complained that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (“the Health Board”) did not inform her that anti-depressant medication could be difficult to come off, with potentially difficult side effects.
The Ombudsman decided that the Health Board had held discussions with Ms A about the difficulties of coming off the medication. However these discussions had taken place after the medication had already been started. The Health Board’s complaint response did not address the concern that no conversation had taken place before the medication was prescribed. The Ombudsman decided to settle the complaint without an investigation.
The Ombudsman sought and gained the Health Board’s agreement to, within 1 month, apologise to Ms A and provide an updated complaint response addressing her concern about not being informed of the difficulties in coming off the medication before it had commenced.