Ms C complained about the care and treatment she received from Hywel Dda University Health Board (“the Health Board”) when she was in the early stages of pregnancy. She complained that, if an earlier scan had been carried out, she would have known about the ectopic pregnancy at an earlier point and been able to have medical treatment, rather than surgical intervention. The fact that surgery was needed meant that her remaining fallopian tube had to be removed. The investigation considered whether, given Ms C’s presentation and history of ectopic pregnancies, the following decisions were clinically appropriate: • Not to carry out an ultrasound scan when she presented at the Emergency Department (ED).
• Not to refer her to the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) within 24 hours or sooner, following review by the midwife.
The investigation found that that the decision not to carry out a scan when Ms C presented at the ED on 29 April was clinically appropriate, given that there was no clinical indication for an urgent ultrasound at that time. The investigation also found that although Ms C should have been offered an earlier scan appointment at the EPAU, it would not have changed the treatment options available to her. The Ombudsman did not uphold Ms C’s complaints.