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Hospital committed 'gross error' | Hospital committed 'gross error' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The treatment of a 63-year-old County Fermanagh woman who died in Belfast City Hospital has been criticised by the Northern Ireland Ombudsman. | The treatment of a 63-year-old County Fermanagh woman who died in Belfast City Hospital has been criticised by the Northern Ireland Ombudsman. |
Tom Frawley criticised the hospital in his report into the death of the woman, identified only as Mrs M. | |
She was extremely ill when she was transferred from the Erne Hospital in December 2001, but was allowed to discharge herself two days later. | She was extremely ill when she was transferred from the Erne Hospital in December 2001, but was allowed to discharge herself two days later. |
He said this was a "gross error of judgement". | He said this was a "gross error of judgement". |
Mr Frawley said he regarded it as "serious maladministration" in her treatment. | Mr Frawley said he regarded it as "serious maladministration" in her treatment. |
The woman's son took her back to Accident and Emergency five days later because she was in severe pain and her left leg was extremely swollen. | The woman's son took her back to Accident and Emergency five days later because she was in severe pain and her left leg was extremely swollen. |
She was not admitted despite being exceptionally weak and not fit to travel home, said the ombudsman. | |
The following day she was taken back to the hospital, seen by the same doctor and admitted. | The following day she was taken back to the hospital, seen by the same doctor and admitted. |
Her condition was monitored for several days by medical staff concerned about deep vein thrombosis in the woman's left leg - before a procedure was carried out after five days. | Her condition was monitored for several days by medical staff concerned about deep vein thrombosis in the woman's left leg - before a procedure was carried out after five days. |
The woman died 48 hours later from suspected pulmonary embolism. | The woman died 48 hours later from suspected pulmonary embolism. |
Mr Frawley said the decision not to admit Mrs M to BCH on 15 December 2001 "was a gross error of judgement which I regarded as serious maladministration". | Mr Frawley said the decision not to admit Mrs M to BCH on 15 December 2001 "was a gross error of judgement which I regarded as serious maladministration". |
"The failure of the attending doctor to make proper records compounded the level of maladministration," he added. | "The failure of the attending doctor to make proper records compounded the level of maladministration," he added. |
The fact that she was then admitted the following day confirmed his view the earlier decision was manifestly wrong and "suggestive of professional incompetence." | The fact that she was then admitted the following day confirmed his view the earlier decision was manifestly wrong and "suggestive of professional incompetence." |
The ombudsman recommended the chief executive of the hospital trust issue a detailed letter of apology and produce an evaluation report on the concerns and criticisms identified. |