PUBLIC SERVICES OMBUDSMAN (WALES) ACT 2005
PUBLIC SERVICES OMBUDSMAN
(WALES) ACT 2005
Notice pursuant to Section 17 (3) of the above Act.
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has investigated a complaint and found service failure by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (known as Swansea Bay University Health Board since 1st April 2019) relating to the care of a medical patient. The complaint was raised by ‘Mrs R’ in relation to the care provided to her mother, who was admitted to the Emergency Department following a fall at home and suffered a stroke whilst she was an inpatient.
The Ombudsman found that the Health Board failed to take prompt and appropriate action to assess and treat the patient’s stroke symptoms and manage her needs for fluid and nutrition. The Ombudsman further found that the Health Board’s documentation was poor. The Ombudsman also partially upheld that Health Board failed to take appropriate action to refer the patient to relevant specialities. The Ombudsman found that the failures identified contain wider lessons for all Health Boards across Wales to learn from this case.
The Health Board would like to publicly apologise for the failings identified and for the distress that this caused to the patient and her family. A number of recommendations were made to the Health Board by the Ombudsman, which have been fully accepted and implemented.
A copy of the Ombudsman’s report on the results of his investigation will be available on the Health Board’s website www.sbuhb.nhs.wales and for inspection by the public without charge during normal working office hours at Swansea Bay University Health Board Headquarters, 1 Talbot Gateway, Port Talbot, SA12 7BR for a period of 3 weeks from 19th February 2020 and anyone who wishes may take a copy of this report or take extracts therefrom. Photocopies of the report or parts thereof will be provided on request free of charge.
CHRIS WHITE
DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE
(ON BEHALF OF TRACY MYHILL, CHIEF EXECUTIVE)
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