Mr A complained about the care provided to his partner, Ms B, when she presented at the ED with severe abdominal symptoms caused by a bowel perforation. There was a delay in assessing Ms B in the ED. Ms B felt that this delay had affected the surgical outcome for her. The Ombudsman investigated Mr A’s complaint that earlier diagnosis and treatment of Ms B’s bowel perforation would likely have avoided the need for the formation of a stoma.
The Ombudsman found that the surgery carried out was in line with accepted clinical practice and that, owing to the nature of Ms B’s bowel perforation, the formation of a stoma would have been required even if the surgery been performed sooner. The complaint was therefore not upheld.