The Ombudsman investigated Ms B’s complaint about the cardiology management and care that she received from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s (“the Health Board”) Ysbyty Gwynedd (“the Hospital”) between January to May 2022 and whether it was clinically appropriate, including:
- the delay in review of the Holter monitor (a small wearable device that records electrical activity in the heart) following her January 2022 collapse;
- the apparent incorrect implant of the leads into the generator of the pacemaker which resulted in an additional clinical procedure on the same day in February 2022.
The Ombudsman did not uphold Ms B’s complaints. The investigation found that broadly the care and treatment provided by the Hospital’s Cardiology team was clinically appropriate and reasonable; although there were areas where clinical practice in terms of care and documentation could have been better. The investigation also found that only 1 operation took place on the day in question and this related to a displaced lead.
However, the Health Board was invited to consider points of learning around the prescribing of a beta-blocker (which acts to slow the heart and suppress any rapid abnormal heart rhythm) given Ms B’s clinical presentation which included a slow heart rate.