Mrs A complained that from October 2022 to March 2023 a GP Practice in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area (“the Practice”) failed to provide appropriate care and treatment for her late mother in respect of her presenting symptoms, condition and past medical history (aortic heart valve replacement in 2007). Mrs A was particularly concerned that there were inappropriate delays and missed opportunities in treating her mother and referring her urgently to the heart failure clinic. Her mother sadly died in May 2023.
The investigation found that while there were learning opportunities for the Practice, mainly regarding expediting investigations in deteriorating patients, the care provided had been of an appropriate standard. Importantly, the Practice had sought, in November 2022, to expedite an echocardiogram for Mrs A’s mother and this was the key investigation for her (in accordance with NICE (2021) National Guideline 208: “Heart valve disease presenting in adults: investigation and management”, which placed echocardiographic monitoring at the centre of management). The complaint was therefore not upheld.
