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NHS criticised over pregnancy jab NHS criticised over pregnancy jab
(about 1 hour later)
Two NHS bodies have been criticised by a watchdog after a pregnant woman was denied a routine £100 injection.Two NHS bodies have been criticised by a watchdog after a pregnant woman was denied a routine £100 injection.
A public service ombudsman report found that the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and Cardiff Local Health Board (LHB) could not agree who should pay for it.A public service ombudsman report found that the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and Cardiff Local Health Board (LHB) could not agree who should pay for it.
The patient, from Cardiff, arranged a private treatment and the ombudsman has recommended that she is reimbursed and compensated.The patient, from Cardiff, arranged a private treatment and the ombudsman has recommended that she is reimbursed and compensated.
In a joint statement, the LHB and the trust apologised to the patient. In a joint statement, the LHB and the trust both apologised to the woman.
The woman, known as Mrs R in the report, requested the antenatal injection in 2006 because of her particular blood group and problems her mother had in pregnancy. The patient, identified only as Mrs R, requested the antenatal injection in 2006 because of her particular blood group and problems her mother had in pregnancy.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) recommends that the injection is offered as a routine treatment.The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) recommends that the injection is offered as a routine treatment.
But Mrs R was told at her hospital that she would not be offered the injection because it was not funded by the Cardiff LHB, which is responsible for commissioning health services for Cardiff residents. But Mrs R was told at her hospital she would not be offered the injection because it was not funded by the Cardiff LHB, which is responsible for commissioning health services for Cardiff residents.
Yet again, a patient in Wales has been let down simply because individual NHS bodies are trying to protect their own budgets Ombudsman Peter TyndallYet again, a patient in Wales has been let down simply because individual NHS bodies are trying to protect their own budgets Ombudsman Peter Tyndall
She applied to Cardiff LHB for funding for the treatment on an individual basis but it was not granted in time for her to cancel the private appointment for the treatment she had made.She applied to Cardiff LHB for funding for the treatment on an individual basis but it was not granted in time for her to cancel the private appointment for the treatment she had made.
Mrs R also wrote to the trust, which provides the services, and was told Cardiff LHB had not commissioned the service in question from it.Mrs R also wrote to the trust, which provides the services, and was told Cardiff LHB had not commissioned the service in question from it.
But Cardiff LHB said it had provided the trust with sufficient funding to cover the cost of the drug, though it was not prepared to agree to the trust's stated associated staff costs.But Cardiff LHB said it had provided the trust with sufficient funding to cover the cost of the drug, though it was not prepared to agree to the trust's stated associated staff costs.
It said that it had not been aware, before Mrs R's complaint, that the trust had not been implementing Nice guidance in this case.It said that it had not been aware, before Mrs R's complaint, that the trust had not been implementing Nice guidance in this case.
Issues unresolvedIssues unresolved
Mrs R gave birth, but felt the issues she had raised remained unresolved and this was important should she ever decide to have more children.Mrs R gave birth, but felt the issues she had raised remained unresolved and this was important should she ever decide to have more children.
As well as recommending the local health board reimburse Mrs R for the cost of her treatment, ombudsman Peter Tyndall said between them the trust and the Cardiff LHB should pay her £250 for the stress.As well as recommending the local health board reimburse Mrs R for the cost of her treatment, ombudsman Peter Tyndall said between them the trust and the Cardiff LHB should pay her £250 for the stress.
He remained concerned the trust and LHB had still not reached an agreement over the funding of this treatment to the future.He remained concerned the trust and LHB had still not reached an agreement over the funding of this treatment to the future.
He also brought his report to attention of Health Minister Edwina Hart so that she could consider whether the trust and the LHB needed further guidance.He also brought his report to attention of Health Minister Edwina Hart so that she could consider whether the trust and the LHB needed further guidance.
"Yet again, a patient in Wales has been let down simply because individual NHS bodies are trying to protect their own budgets," he said."Yet again, a patient in Wales has been let down simply because individual NHS bodies are trying to protect their own budgets," he said.
"It is unacceptable for patients to be denied access to a treatment which they should receive on clinical grounds simply because the different NHS bodies responsible cannot agree whose budget should bear the cost.""It is unacceptable for patients to be denied access to a treatment which they should receive on clinical grounds simply because the different NHS bodies responsible cannot agree whose budget should bear the cost."
In a joint statement, Sian Richards, chief executive of Cardiff LHB and Hugh Ross, chief executive of the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, both bodies said they accepted the ombudsman's findings.In a joint statement, Sian Richards, chief executive of Cardiff LHB and Hugh Ross, chief executive of the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, both bodies said they accepted the ombudsman's findings.
They said they were working together to ensure the injection in question was made routinely available to pregnant women with the same blood group as Mrs R.They said they were working together to ensure the injection in question was made routinely available to pregnant women with the same blood group as Mrs R.