Mrs C felt that the GP Practice did not manage her husband's chest complaints and severe joint pain properly. She felt that clinicians should have reached a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis sooner and treated it.
What happened
Mr C was a patient at the Practice. From winter 2010 to summer 2013 he went to the Practice with a number of problems including chest infections, breathing difficulties and pain in his joints. He was examined and treated for all these symptoms. In spring 2013, after a chest X–ray, Mr C was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a rare condition that causes scarring of the lungs.
In summer 2013 Mr C went to the Practice with breathing difficulties. Staff gave him oxygen and called an emergency ambulance. He went to hospital and staff put him on a ventilator in the critical care unit, where he was treated for pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis.
Mr C's health continued to deteriorate and he died later that month.
What we found
We did not uphold this complaint. The GP at the Practice examined and treated Mr C by carrying out chest X–rays and lung function tests. These investigations proved normal and Mr C chest infection symptoms improved following treatment.
It was clear that the GP responded appropriately to Mr C's symptoms, in line with established good practice. The GP's investigations were correct and until the X–ray in spring 2013, none of them would have suggested pulmonary fibrosis.
A GP practice
Lancashire
Replied with inaccurate or incomplete information
Not applicable