Delay in diagnosis of boy’s brain tumour was unreasonable, rules watchdog

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy with a brain tumour was let down by an “unreasonable delay” in diagnosing his condition, an investigation has found.

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman upheld a complaint against NHS Forth Valley over the boy’s care and criticised a paediatrician for failing to link his symptoms of vomiting and headaches to a brain tumour.

The boy, known only as Child A, was seen by the consultant on three occa- sions at Forth Valley Royal Hospital from January to July 2014, before collapsing at home in August 2014. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour and had a “lengthy and difficult surgery”.

However, delays in identifying it meant that it was impossible to remove completely and the boy had to undergo chemotherapy as a result. He has also been left with neurological defects.

Experts told the SPSO the boy’s symptoms should have led to a referral for a brain scan by April 2014, and that the paediatrician’s failure to consider that Child A may have a brain tumour and arrange appropriate scans and referrals “was below an acceptable standard of care”. The paediatrician no longer works for NHS Forth Valley.

A second adviser said an earlier diagnosis “would have meant a smaller tumour and a shorter, less challenging operation”.

In his report, the SPSO said: “The unreasonable delay meant an opportunity to completely remove the tumour was missed, and Child A required extra treatment (chemotherapy) with significant risks and was left with neurological defects.”