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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PCT failed to properly consider funding request

Summary 314 | July 2014

Mr J, who had a rare disfiguring condition, was refused funding for liposuction because the commissioning body, a primary care trust – the PCT used the wrong process to consider his application.

Missed opportunities to better manage patient's and family's needs towards the end of her life

Summary 313 | July 2014

Mr M complained about the Trust's failure to properly care for his mother, who died from complications associated with a bleeding stomach ulcer.

Failings in nursing care of woman in her nineties

Summary 312 | July 2014

Mrs P complained that the Trust had wrongly moved her mother, Mrs Q, to a nurse–led unit. Mrs P felt that this made Mrs Q's health deteriorate. Mrs P also felt that the care her mother received on the nurse–led unit was inadequate.

Trust did not give sick child the right ongoing care

Summary 311 | July 2014

Although the Trust acknowledged its failings in P's care, it did not make sure that staff carried out the suggested improvements.

Patient was worried about poor outcome of operation

Summary 310 | July 2014

Mrs D was concerned that the surgeon who carried out a second operation on her abscess had not done the operation properly. She felt that this had led to her being seriously ill for a long time."

NHS failed to arrange fast-track care package

Summary 309 | July 2014

Mr L complained that his mother's former primary care trust (PCT) failed to action a fast–track request within the required 48 hours.

Postoperative bleeding in 15-month-old baby

Summary 308 | July 2014

Miss A complained about the care of her young son, Baby B, before and after an operation to correct a birth defect in his urethra.

Clinical commissioning group was wrong to say that bigger care home room was lifestyle supplement

Summary 307 | July 2014

Mr P complained that the local CCG refused to pay the full cost of his mother, Mrs G's, continuing healthcare care home fees because her room was larger than a standard room. He also complained that the CCG did not reconsider funding when his mother's health deteriorated.

Trust did not record patient's wedding ring carefully

Summary 306 | July 2014

Failure to follow guidance on the care of patients' property meant there was no evidence about whether Mrs A came into the Trust wearing a ring.

Misdiagnosis caused patient additional worry

Summary 305 | July 2014

Mr N was concerned about possible heart problems after an abnormal ECG. Trust staff carried out further investigations and diagnosed Mr N with a heart problem. He subsequently had investigations at another hospital which found he did not have this condition.