Miss B complained about the clinical care and treatment received by her partner, Mr A, at University Hospital of Wales (“the Hospital”). The investigation considered whether the delay in commencing suitable treatment for Mr A’s hepatitis B in September 2022 may have resulted in a detrimental impact on his health. The infection was identified following blood tests January 2021, but treatment was not considered until Mr A was formally told of the diagnosis in July 2022, some 17 months later.
The Ombudsman found that Mr A already had chronic hepatitis B when he was tested in January 2021 and that this would have been present for more than 6 months, and likely many years prior to that. The delay in commencing treatment resulted in no detrimental or adverse impacts to Mr A’s health and any other symptoms experienced in the period of delay were unrelated. The complaint was not upheld.