Report says blood clot man’s death could have been prevented
A MAN’S death could have been prevented if he had been given drugs to prevent blood clots when he was discharged from a Glasgow hospital, an inquiry found.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has apologised to a widow for ‘significant and serious failings’ .
The unnamed woman’s late husband had a hip replacement at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in June 2016 and was discharged with aspirin to reduce the risk of a blood clot.
Three weeks later he was readmitted with a suspected upper-gastrointestinal bleed but suffered a sudden collapse and died from a cardiac arrest caused by a pulmonary embolism - a sudden blockage in a major artery.
The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) inquiry found that by discharging the man on aspirin alone “there was a failure to provide appropriate medication to reduce the risk of blood clots”.
The report notes there is “no completely effective way of preventing pulmonary embolism; however, providing appropriate medication could have reduced the risk.We were unable to rule out the possibility that this failing may have contributed to death,” it added.
A health board spokesman said: “We recognise there were failings and have written to the family to reiterate our condolences and to apologise.”