Summary
Ms C, an MSP, complained on behalf of her constituent (Mr B). Mr B had concerns that his late mother (Mrs A) who suffered from COPD (a chronic inflammatory lung disease) had been discharged from Vale Of Leven Hospital. Mrs A was readmitted to hospital the day following discharge with pneumonia and died a few days later. Mr B felt that Mrs A should not have been discharged from hospital while she still had an infection.
We took independent advice from a consultant physician. We found that Mrs A was prone to suffering chest infections in view of her COPD. Prior to the hospital discharge there was evidence that Mrs A's health had improved and that there was no clinical need for her to remain in hospital. Arrangements were made for an appropriate care package to be in place at home and Mrs A was in agreement with this. Mrs A then quickly went on to develop a new infection, which could not be predicted, and she did not recover from it during her readmission to hospital. We did not uphold the complaint.
Related reading
View Decision Report 201807573 as a PDF (23.89 KB) Updated: May 22, 2019