Summary
Miss C complained about the care and treatment she received at A&E at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) and when she attended for an MRI scan. She also complained about the clinical and nursing care and treatment provided during a number of admissions to the RIE.
We took independent advice from a consultant in emergency medicine in relation to Miss C's attendance at A&E. We found that the care and treatment was reasonable, in particular, that Miss C was seen by an emergency medicine doctor who obtained a thorough history and conducted a comprehensive examination; that the possibility of a pituitary (a small gland in the brain that makes hormones) tumour was considered and the most appropriate radiological imaging plan was discussed with a radiologist; that arrangements were made for an emergency out-patient MRI scan which was carried out within the timeframe for an urgent MRI scan.
We took independent advice from a consultant radiologist in relation to the care and treatment given to Miss C when she attended for an MRI scan. We found no evidence that the care and treatment was unreasonable and, therefore, we did not uphold the complaint.
In relation to the clinical care and treatment given to Miss C when she was admitted to the RIE on three occasions, we took independent advice from a consultant surgeon. We found that the clinical care and treatment given to Miss C during these admissions was reasonable and we did not uphold these complaints.
Finally, we took independent advice from a nursing adviser in relation to the nursing aspects of the care given to Miss C during two of her admissions to the RIE. We found failings in relation to Miss C's discharge medication on one occasion and we upheld this aspect of her complaint. The board accepted these failings and had taken action which we considered was reasonable.
Therefore, we made no further recommendations. We found no failings in relation to the nursing care and treatment given to Miss C during the second admission to the RIE and we did not uphold this complaint.
Related reading
View Decision Report 201805670 as a PDF (24.57 KB) Updated: June 17, 2020