NHS Grampian will issue a formal apology to a woman for an “unreasonable delay” in providing her neurological treatment said to have lowered her chance of recovery.
The Scottish Ombudsman carried out an investigation into how the health board dealt with a patient named only as Ms C who was referred by her GP for treatment.
Two days after her first presentation to the neurological department she was diagnosed with cauda equine syndrome – a rare and serious condition that affects nerves at the bottom of the spine.
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Ms C said there had been a delay in carrying out a scan and performing surgery and this lowered her chances of making a recovery.
And now the Ombudsman has agreed with her following an investigation in which it took independent advice from a consultant neurosurgeon.
A report states: “Under the clinical guidance in place at the time, the board should have carried out an emergency MRI scan and then performed emergency surgery during Ms C’s first admission.
“We considered that it was unreasonable that Ms C did not receive an MRI scan and surgery until she returned to the department two days later.
“If the surgery had been carried out when it should have been, then it is more likely that Ms C would have maintained better urological and sexual function.”
The Ombudsman, however, said it was “unable to say that Ms C would have recovered to normal function”.
An NHS Grampian spokeswoman said the board accepted this and a formal apology would be issued.
She said: “We fully accept the Ombudsman’s findings in this case.
“We will be making a formal written apology to Ms C in the coming days but would wish to take this opportunity to apologise to her publicly for the failings in her care.
“The other recommendations made by the Ombudsman will be taken forward by the relevant clinical teams in NHS Grampian for implementation within the timescales laid out.”
