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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Hospital's administrative errors delayed scan

Summary 424 | September 2014

Ms Y went to the Trust in late summer 2011 suffering from blackouts and headaches.

Lack of input from surgical team after surgery led to pain and distress

Summary 423 | September 2014

Mrs W complained that after surgery for a kidney stone, she did not get appropriate pain relief and doctors from the urology team did not review her, despite repeated requests. Mrs W also complained that the Trust did not respond fully to her complaint, which left her with unanswered questions, worries about future treatment she might need and concerns that other people might have the same experience she did.

Poor communication made patient think something had gone wrong

Summary 422 | September 2014

Mr A developed a deep wound infection after heart surgery. Although this was not life–threatening, he was left scared and depressed because he thought he was at greater risk than he actually was.

Failings in care and treatment of a man with sepsis reduced his chances of recovery

Summary 421 | September 2014

Mr C, who had multiple health problems, went to hospital as an emergency. Staff did not recognise the severity of his illness at first and he waited over two hours to be seen by a doctor.

Patient discharged from A&E was readmitted later that day

Summary 420 | September 2014

After Mr F's emergency admission to A&E, doctors did not fully assess his condition before they discharged him. He was later readmitted as an emergency.

Poor end of life care

Summary 419 | September 2014

Mrs V's daughter complained that her mother had poor end of life care, and the family were not told about a do not resuscitate (DNAR) order.

Nursing care fell below the expected standard

Summary 418 | September 2014

Ms F complained about elements of the nursing and medical care she received during several admissions to hospital.

Fall in hospital led to fractured hip

Summary 417 | September 2014

A trust's failure to give reasonable care meant that Mr D fell while he was in hospital.

Woman will never know whether her father, could have lived longer if he had had better treatment, sooner

Summary 416 | September 2014

Ms K says that doctors and nurses gave her father poor care and treatment when he was admitted to hospital. We found his heart problems were not treated soon enough.

Could more have been done to ease man's final days?

Summary 415 | September 2014

Mr T's son complained about his late father's nursing and medical care. He believed that the Trust's lack of care led to his father's death.