Clinical treatment in hospital : Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Mrs D complained about the care and treatment provided to her husband, Mr D, by the Health Board. Mrs D complained that Mr D did not receive diuretic medication as required and was not given the option to receive support from his family when discussing a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (“DNACPR”) decision. She also complained about the nursing care he received, about communication regarding his end of life care and that his sad death was not certified within a reasonable time frame. Finally, Mrs D complained about the Health Board’s complaint handling.

The investigation found that more could have been done to enable Mr D to receive support from his family when discussing a DNACPR decision and that the Health Board did not respond to Mrs D’s request for a meeting to discuss her outstanding concerns promptly. These aspects of the complaint were therefore upheld. However, the investigation found it was reasonable that Mr D was not given diuretic medication following admission to the Hospital, and that nursing care and communication regarding end of life care were also reasonable. Finally, the investigation did not uphold Mrs D’s concern that Mr D’s death was not certified within a reasonable time frame.

The Health Board agreed to the Ombudsman’s recommendations to apologise to Mrs D and the family, to remind consultants of the expected standard of communication regarding DNACPR decisions and to remind its Concerns department of the requirements of the Putting Things Right (“PTR”) process.