Clinical treatment in hospital: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Mr N complained about the care and treatment his late wife, Mrs N, received from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board when she was admitted to Wrexham Maelor Hospital (“the Hospital”) in July 2022. In particular, he questioned whether the outcome for his wife would have been different if her care had been escalated following a deterioration in her condition on 8 July 2022.

The investigation found that whilst it was unlikely there would have been a different outcome if Mrs N’s care had been escalated when her condition deteriorated, there was a failure to discuss a do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation order (“DNACPR” – this informs clinicians that a patient does not wish to be resuscitated) with Mr and Mrs N during both her palliative chemotherapy treatment and her admission to the Hospital in July 2022. On this basis, the Ombudsman upheld the complaint.

The Ombudsman recommended that the Health Board apologise to Mr N, share the report with those involved in Mrs N’s care and take steps to ensure it is using the most up-to-date system to record patient observations.

The Health Board agreed to the recommendations.