NHS ordered to apologise to patient left fasting after op cancelled.

HEALTH: NHS Tayside ordered to apologise to patient as information was not relayed to ward

A patient was left fasting in a Dundee hospital for hours, despite his surgery being cancelled earlier in the day.

The man was awaiting surgery on a repeat rupture to his Achilles tendon at Ninewells Hospital when the decision was taken to prioritise emergency cases.

He had been fasting from early morning until evening but was not told by staff when the surgery was cancelled “at some point during the day”.

Scotland’s health watchdog has ruled the man’s “frustration and anxiety” was exacerbated unnecessarily while it also pinpointed a number of other failures.

NHS Tayside was ordered to apologise.

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) report, which names the man only as Mr C, said: “The records show that he remained on the ward, while fasting, from early in the morning until the evening.

“However, at some point during the day, his surgery was cancelled due to there being more urgent emergency cases.

“This information was not relayed to staff on the ward, despite them making inquiries.

“We did not consider the fact that the surgery was cancelled to be unreasonable, as it is understandable that emergency cases may have to take priority at short notice. However, when it was known that the surgery was cancelled, this should have been relayed to the ward as soon as possible.

“The fact that this did not happen resulted in further frustration and anxiety.”

Months earlier, the patient had received treatment at Ninewells to the same Achilles tendon.

On this occasion, he was told no surgery was required and he was subsequently discharged.

However, the SPSO said staff failed to discuss treatment options such as physiotherapy or a home exercise programme despite the patient raising concerns about the progress of his recovery.

The health board has been asked to apologise and ensure treatment options, where appropriate, are openly discussed with patients.

It also said processes should be looked at to ensure a similar situation does not occur again.

A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “We have apologised to the patient and are working to address the recommendations in the report.”

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The fact that this did not happen resulted in further frustration. SPSO REPORT