Case summaries

These short, anonymised stories show the profound impact that failures in public services can have on the lives of individuals and their families.

Please note we have not published any new case summaries on this page since 2015. In April 2021 we began publishing our casework decision statements and investigation reports on our decisions portal.

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Poor response to concerns about GP care at residential care home

Summary 674 | December 2014

A GP Practice provided reasonable care and treatment to an older patient with dementia. However, the Local Area Team's response to the complaint failed to adequately address concerns the patient's wife raised.

GP failed to respond to a written complaint

Summary 673 | December 2014

The GP Practice should have written to Ms D to explain she was a temporary patient. It then mishandled her complaint about this.

Unreasonable delay in dealing with urgent referral

Summary 672 | December 2014

Ms C experienced an unreasonable delay after her GP referred her to the Trust's community mental health team.

GP practice sent patient an unreasonable warning

Summary 671 | December 2014

A patient complained that the warning he received from his GP Practice made unfair allegations about his behaviour.

Nursing staff delayed giving medication and pain relief to terminally ill cancer patient

Summary 670 | December 2014

Mrs R felt nursing staff were uncaring and dismissive of her daughter's pain, so her pain relief was delayed. Her daughter also did not get medicine to prevent sickness after her chemotherapy.

Practice misdiagnosed woman's condition, putting her at unnecessary risk

Summary 669 | December 2014

Miss L was diagnosed with a condition that she did not have. She was put at an unnecessary risk of side effects from medication.

Missed diagnosis of rare condition did not affect patient's chances of survival

Summary 668 | December 2014

Failings in Mr B's care led to the misdiagnosis of a rare acute cardiac condition. However, it is likely his condition had already progressed too far by the time he was first seen in A&E and so his death could not have been avoided.

Daughter complained about her late father's care

Summary 667 | December 2014

Ms H complained that GPs did not fully consider her father's symptoms to see if he needed to be admitted to hospital.

Failure to diagnose lung cancer while in hospital

Summary 666 | December 2014

Mrs M complained about the care and treatment her late husband received during two admissions to the Trust. Mrs M believed that the failings in care led to her husband's death.

Poor communication between hospital departments adds distress to patient who needed end of life care

Summary 665 | December 2014

Mr R complained on behalf of his late father, Mr D, about the care and treatment he received from the Trust. Mr R was specifically unhappy that his father was moved from the A&E department, and ward staff were not prepared for his arrival.