Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board

Summary

C complained about the care and treatment that they received in Accident & Emergency (A&E) following an accident. In particular, C was concerned that they were not kept in hospital for at least 24 hours following the accident, that they did not receive emergency surgery and that their x-rays were not looked at properly to identify the full extent of their injuries.

We took independent advice from an emergency medical adviser and a radiology adviser (analyses images of the body). We found that it was appropriate to manage C's injuries conservatively and that there was not a need for emergency surgery, that it was appropriate to discharge C with a plan for follow-up with the orthopaedic (conditions involving the musculoskeletal system) surgeons and that the A&E staff correctly identified C's injuries from the x-rays. We, therefore, did not uphold C's complaint regarding the care received in A&E.

C also complained about the orthopaedic care and treatment that they received. We took independent advice from a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and a radiology adviser. We found that assessments and examinations carried out by the orthopaedic department were reasonable. We, therefore, did not uphold C's complaint in this regard.

Related reading

View Decision Report 201908291 as a PDF (24.27 KB) Updated: June 23, 2021