Mrs D and Mr E complained that omissions in care by a GP practice caused their mother Mrs H's premature death. Their mother's death caused them considerable distress. Mrs D and Mr E wanted the GP Practice to acknowledge and apologise for the omissions in care, and wanted action to prevent similar failings from happening again.
What happened
Mrs H, who was in her nineties, was frail with several health conditions. She was essentially housebound. A GP visited early in 2013 after Mrs H developed jaundice and said that Mrs H needed further investigations in hospital or elsewhere to find out why she was jaundiced. He suspected she might have cancer. Mrs H declined further investigations.
The doctor requested blood tests to be carried out at home. These showed abnormalities and Mrs H was referred on an urgent basis to the jaundice clinic. Mrs H's condition continued to deteriorate and Mrs D asked for a home visit shortly after.
Another GP at the Practice spoke to Mrs H and decided to visit a couple of days later. When a third GP carried out a home visit, it was apparent that Mrs H needed nursing care. She went into a nursing home that day. Her condition continued to deteriorate and she went into hospital soon after. Staff diagnosed gallstones and these were removed. Mrs H's condition continued to decline and she died soon after.
What we found
We partly upheld this complaint. Much of the care provided for Mrs H was in line with national guidance. The doctors treating her meant well and thought that they were acting in her best interests. That said, they failed to be entirely frank or to set out more clearly the reasons for suggesting admission to hospital for further investigations. They also did not visit and reassess Mrs H at home soon enough.
We could not conclude that Mrs H died prematurely. Even if she had had enough information about the risk to her wellbeing if she did not go to hospital, she may well still have refused to go in when she first knew about how serious her illness was, given her fear of hospitals.
Putting it right
The GP Practice acknowledged and apologised for the identified failings. It drew up an action plan to address the failings.
A GP practice
Plymouth
Did not apologise properly or do enough to put things right
Apology
Recommendation to learn lessons or draw up an action plan