Scottish Ambulance Service

Summary

C complained about Scottish Ambulance Service's (SAS) failure to take appropriate action in response to patient A's symptoms. A had been ill for approximately two days with a high temperature, fever, followed by diarrhoea, trouble passing urine, extreme pain, breathlessness and struggling with mobility. When the SAS crew attended to A at home, an assessment was carried out and senior clinical advice was sought from the out-of-hours GP. It was decided that A did not require to be admitted at that time.

The following day A was admitted to hospital and later died from sepsis (blood infection). C complained that the SAS crew failed to recognise the signs of sepsis and to take the appropriate action in response to their symptoms.

As part of our investigation, we reviewed the relevant records and sought independent advice from a registered paramedic. We found that the SAS crew carried out an appropriate assessment of A's condition and that there was sufficient evidence that the possibility of sepsis was considered. We found that the SAS took the appropriate action in response to A's symptoms and we did not uphold the complaint.

Related reading

View Decision Report 202104233 as a PDF (24.27 KB) Updated: February 16, 2022