Ms B complained, with the help of a Complaints Advocate, about the standard of care provided by the Health Board. The investigation considered whether the care and treatment provided at the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (“EPAU”) on 21 March 2023 was clinically appropriate, and whether the subsequent Community Midwife Team (“CMT”) care provided was clinically appropriate.
The Ombudsman found that Ms B should have been reviewed by the attending obstetrician when she attended the EPAU on 21 March. Ms B should have been prescribed progesterone (a hormone which can lower the risk of miscarriage in women who experience bleeding in early pregnancy and those who have experienced at least one miscarriage) as hers was a “high risk” pregnancy, in view of her previous late pregnancy loss. Ms B did not receive care from the CMT; when she telephoned on 2 occasions to book in for her care, she was refused an appointment because she was planning to move out of the area. Ms B should have been able to book in for care while she was living in the Health Board area, and was entitled to reassurance and care from midwives at an anxious time in her pregnancy. Ms B should have been referred to a consultant obstetrician, so that she was on the appropriate clinical path for regular assessment and further screening in a more timely manner during the following weeks. In addition, the Health Board was unable to provide records of the telephone calls, which amounted to maladministration.
The Ombudsman upheld both parts of the complaint, and made recommendations for an apology, financial redress, a reminder to the CMT concerning the offering of appointments, and a review of CMT record keeping.
