Health / Health board told to apologise after patient suffers pain and distress in hospital
NHS SHETLAND has apologised following a complaint it received over the care given to a patient who suffered “pain and distress” at the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick.
The complaint was upheld this month by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO).
NHS Shetland said it was “deeply sorry” for the family’s experience in hospital.
The complaint centred around attempts to insert a urinary catheter in the patient, who had bladder cancer and had been admitted to hospital experiencing pain and discomfort.
The complainer, who is the patient’s daughter, said the decision to try to insert a catheter was unreasonable and that the woman was in pain and shouting for them to stop.
The ombudsman said it took independent advice from a general surgeon and found it was reasonable that medical staff tried to insert a urinary catheter.
“However, we found that the repeated and distressing attempts to do so were unreasonable,” it said.
“We considered that the first attempt to insert a urinary catheter should have been carried out by a more senior member of medical staff.”
The ombudsman added that the patient should have been given better pain relief/sedation before any further attempts were made, and that medical staff had failed to recognise her distress and to respond to her clear withdrawal of consent.
To put things right in the future, the SPSO said: “Patients, at the end of their life, should only undergo invasive procedures and interventions if they will ease their distress or pain.
“When such procedures are carried out, it should be by medical staff with an appropriate level of expertise; with appropriate consent from the patient; and only after adequate pain relief has been administered.”
In response, NHS Shetland medical director Dr Kirsty Brightwell said: “We are deeply sorry that this patient and her family had such a poor experience in the Gilbert Bain Hospital.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
“NHS Shetland has supported the team involved to review what happened and we undertook a thorough investigation.
“We upheld the complaint in full and offered our unreserved apology. We also recognised the clinicians’ intentions were good as they aimed to reduce suffering.
“We welcome the SPSO investigation and the opportunity to scrutinise our processes. We have taken the outcome of the complaint investigation and the SPSO report extremely seriously and will use this to enable staff to learn from what happened. The SPSO has agreed we have complied with their recommendations.”
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.