Investigation reports

A woman complained about the treatment given to her mother in the Emergency Department of the Ulster Hospital.  We found her treatment on the whole was appropriate, but made a number of training recommendations for nursing staff.

The wife of a cancer patient complained about his care in Belfast City Hospital. We found that overall the patient’s pain was appropriately assessed and managed. However, we also concluded that he failed to get radiotherapy when he needed it because of a delay in receiving a biopsy.

We partially upheld a complaint from two sisters who believed that the Trust ignored their concerns when it came to the care of their mother in a nursing home.

Our investigation found that the care and treatment of a patient in the Royal Victoria Hospital was reasonable and appropriate.  However, we also found that she should have been told what symptoms to look out for in case she needed to return to the Emergency Department or visit her GP.

Errors by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust meant that a cancer patient’s end of life symptoms were left uncontrolled, and that opportunities for advanced care planning were missed.  It also found that her end of life wishes were not taken into account.

Investigation finds that it took more than 6 months for the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust to respond to a patient’s complaint.

The Chief Executives of three health trusts have apologised after an error in recording a patient’s date of birth led to him being confused with another patient.

The Ombudsman has recommended staff training in a Trust to help improve communication with patients who become distressed during post-birth procedures.