Mrs X complained that Swansea Bay University Health Board had performed an operation to remove her mother, Mrs Y’s, knee replacement, and replace it with a temporary implant to aid the treatment of her infected knee, without the facilities to carry out the second stage procedure to fit a permanent knee replacement. Mrs X complained that her mother had been left in a worse position than if she had not had the first operation, and without any indication when the second operation may take place.
The investigation was discontinued as Mrs Y has now had the second operation to fit the permanent knee replacement which resolved her complaint and achieved the outcome she desired. The Ombudsman, having taking into account what Mrs X had to say and the available evidence, concluded that the investigation should be discontinued as it would not be proportionate to continue.