The investigation considered whether the Health Board provided adequate and timely care to manage Mr C’s trigeminal neuralgia pain(a rare condition that causes sudden, severe facial pain) between 18 and 24October 2022 and whether it was clinically appropriate that he waited 5 days in March 2023 to receive IV Fosphenytoin (a medication primarily used to control seizures).
The investigation found that although the Health Board provided adequate and timely care during the October 2022 admission, given Mr C’s level and duration of pain, it would have been appropriate to consider administering a lignocaine block or high dose steroids. The clinical team made a reasonable effort to obtain IV Fosphenytoin in March 2023 once the omission in the original request was discovered however consideration should have been given to an alternative drug in the interim given Mr C’s level of pain. The Ombudsman upheld the complaint.
The Health Board agreed to provide Mr C with an apology for the failings identified and two financial redress payments for the failures associated with each admission equating to £1,000. It agreed to share the report with the Neurology Department who would then meet to discuss the findings. It ensured that consideration would be given to the administration of alternative medications when the medications outlined within a care plan are not readily available locally.