Miss D complained about care and treatment provided to her by Wye Valley NHS Trust (“the Trust”) on behalf of Powys Teaching Health Board (“the Health Board”). We investigated whether Miss D received appropriate care following her emergency surgery at Hereford Hospital (“the First Hospital” – operated by the Trust) in May 2022, taking into account her underlying neurological condition and specialist input.
The investigation found that there were no missed opportunities to refer Miss D to a neurologist sooner following her emergency surgery. It also found that she received appropriate care after she was transferred to Bromyard Community Hospital (“the Second Hospital” – operated by the Trust), and that appropriate investigations were carried out under the guidance of a neurologist.
The investigation found that there was a failure to provide Miss D with physiotherapy during her admission to the First Hospital, despite this having been requested following the surgery. This was a missed opportunity to provide exercises that may have reduced the pain and discomfort she experienced during her transfer to the Second Hospital. The complaint was upheld to this limited extent.
The Ombudsman made recommendations to the Health Board as it was ultimately responsible for the care provided. The Health Board agreed to apologise to Miss D and pay her £500 to reflect the injustice caused by the Trust’s failure to provide physiotherapy care at the First Hospital.
It also agreed to request as part of its commissioning arrangements, that the Trust arrange for the report to be discussed at a relevant clinical governance meeting and to remind relevant clinicians of the importance of carrying out and documenting neurological examinations where a neurological concern arises, and documenting appropriate discussions with patients when they raise concerns about their care.