Private medical bill complaint is upheld

A WOMAN who was refused treatment by a Glasgow hospital and paid for private treatment will get the bills paid by the health board after she had a complaint upheld.

The patient referred to as Ms C waited 10 months for a HyCoSy scan, to detect damage to fallopian tubes, at the old Southern General hospital.

She then waited to see a gynaecologist to discuss the results of the scan, but with no date for an appointment and as she was suffering “severe abdominal pain” she went abroad to seek a private con- sultation. The consultant carried out an ultrasound scan and recommended a laparoscopy to confirm suspected endometriosis.

However a consultant gynaecologist from Greater Glasgow and Clyde Heath Board then refused to arrange a laparoscopy.

Ms C paid for the procedure abroad which confirmed endometriosis and she then had surgery to treat and cure her symptoms.

She complained to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, who upheld her complaint and recommended the health board apologise and refund her the cost of the treatment.

The ombudsman report said: “We found that there was an unacceptable delay in arranging Ms C’s HyCoSy scan, the result of which was not normal and that a laparoscopy should have been arranged for Ms C by the board.

“We were satisfied that the board should have offered Ms C a laparoscopy to provide the definitive diagnosis.

“Therefore, we upheld Ms C’s complaint.”

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We have previously written to the patient offering our sincere apologies for the failings identified with her care and will now make arrangements to reimburse her for the cost of her surgery abroad.

“We have already put in place an action plan and as a direct result of the issue raised by this patient on her medical notes, our health records team have taken the opportunity to reiterate to all our staff the importance of tracking case records at all times.

“We will also provide a report to the Ombudsman to demonstrate that we have addressed his recommendations fully.”