Mr B complained about the inpatient care and treatment his late father, Mr A, received at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in 2024. The investigation focused on whether it was appropriate to stop Mr A’s long-term oxygen therapy (“LTOT” – supplemental oxygen usually given via a nasal tube from a portable machine) given the fact that he was on it at home. The investigation also considered whether there was a delay in escalating Mr A’s care on 11 February and whether a higher National Early Warning Score (“NEWS,” a clinical tool used to determine whether a patient’s care needs to be escalated) would have changed his management.
The investigation found that even though Mr A was on LTOT, providing supplementary oxygen for 15 hours and not 24 hours was appropriate. The investigation concluded that stopping Mr A’s LTOT was reasonable, appropriate and in accordance with accepted clinical guidance. Accordingly, this aspect of Mr B’s complaint was not upheld.
Mr A’s records showed that his NEWS was fairly stable throughout 11 February, and that there were no delays in escalating Mr A’s care as his condition was relatively stable. Whilst not part of the investigation remit, the investigation did identify a delay in reviewing Mr A on 10 February; based on his recorded NEWS this should have prompted an urgent medical review. However, as Mr A responded to the increased supplemental oxygen and his NEWS improved promptly, the fact that a medical review did not take place was, on balance, not unreasonable and therefore did not cause him an injustice. This part of Mr B’s complaint was also not upheld.