Woman died after Cardiff hospital's sepsis treatment delay

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-33316720

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The care given to an elderly woman who had a cardiac arrest and died after a delay in treatment for sepsis was inadequate, an ombudsman has found.

Mrs A died at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales in March 2014, three weeks after she was admitted.

The ombudsman found there were delays in her being seen by a doctor and giving her medication on admission.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board says it accepts the findings and must pay £4,000 compensation.

The ombudsman Nick Bennet found hospital staff failed to follow guidelines on treating sepsis - which is potentially life-threatening condition, triggered by an infection.

Mrs A, who was 79, was not seen by a doctor for more than three hours when she should have been seen within 10 minutes, the ombudsman found.

There was also a delay in giving her paracetamol and a six-hour delay in giving her antibiotics.

Mr Bennett found the health board also failed to follow record keeping and complaint handling guidance.

He upheld a complaint by her son that she had been misdiagnosed and her illness was mismanaged and concluded the care she received was "inadequate".

Ruth Walker, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board's executive nurse director, said it accepted it could have improved several aspects of the care provided to the patient and it would implement the ombudsman's recommendations.

"The health board recognises the risks posed by sepsis and we have been working hard to raise awareness amongst all staff of the symptoms and steps to take to help save lives.

"We will continue to build on these efforts and share this sad story with all our colleagues to help avoid it happening again," she added.

In addition to paying compensation, the health board has also been told to apologise to the patient's family.