Mrs Y complained that the Trust did not manage her late husband Mr Y's oxygen intake appropriately on the night before he died and that staff did not give him additional intravenous fluids in a timely manner. Mrs Y told us that this meant he became restless and he suffered as a result.
What happened
Mr Y was admitted to an acute medical ward with pneumonia, sepsis and Alzheimer's disease. At the time, he was so poorly that it was agreed with Family that he would not be resuscitated if the need arose. Staff treated him with oxygen and intravenous fluids.
Mrs Y said that her husband was responding to the oxygen that he was receiving, however, the staff nurse changed this and this made him restless. She also stated that his intravenous fluids ran out and that she had to ask nursing staff a number of times to give him further fluids before they did so.
What we found
We did not uphold this complaint. The staff nurse behaved reasonably throughout. She changed the oxygen mix and implemented mouth care to increase Mr Y's oxygen saturation levels and make him more comfortable.
The nurse also liaised with a doctor to establish whether further intravenous fluids would be required and if so, at what rate. The nurse should have recorded this consultation with the doctor in the medical records but she did not. That said, she gave a verbal handover to a nurse starting the next shift and the fluids were given shortly after.
Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Greater Manchester
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