Source · SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman)

Highland NHS Board

SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman) Not Upheld Reference 201103418 Sector Health Category Clinical treatment / Diagnosis Decided 01 July 2012

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Full decision

Summary

Mrs C complained that medical staff delayed in diagnosing her son’s appendicitis. She said that this left him in severe pain and distress. We investigated the complaint and took specialist medical advice. Although it did take some time for appendicitis to be diagnosed, the advice we received was that that there were good reasons for this. Mrs C’s son’s clinical history and his signs and symptoms were not those of classical appendicitis. We found that it was appropriate for staff to consider other potential diagnoses. We also found that staff carried out appropriate investigations during that time, and that there was no delay in taking Mrs C's son to theatre after the results of a scan were reviewed.

Related reading

View Decision Report 201103418 as a PDF (16.38 KB) Updated: March 13, 2018

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