Report Date

13/09/2021

Case Against

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Subject

Clinical treatment in hospital

Case Reference Number

202002379

Outcome

Upheld in whole or in part

On 11 June 2019 at Nevill Hall Hospital, Ms X delivered a baby boy. Afterwards, Ms X had a tear that needed to be repaired with 4 sutures; a clinical decision was made not to administer local anaesthetic as the needle would have caused the same level of discomfort. Ms X said that, during this procedure, she had been in excruciating pain.

The Ombudsman found that there was inadequate conversation with Ms X about pain relief options and there was a failure to administer local anaesthetic. The Ombudsman upheld the complaint.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board agreed to implement the Ombudsman’s recommendations: within 1 month to apologise to Ms X for the failings and make a redress payment of £1,000, and within 3 months to highlight this incident within the maternity unit as a learning point.