NHS Highland has been told to help patients make 'informed decisions' after an SPSO upheld a complaint
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NHS Highland has been told to help patients make “informed decisions” after the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman (SPSO) upheld a complaint against it.
It made the decision after a woman, referred to simply as “C” in SPSO documents, to protect her privacy, said she was operated on without being given information about all the treatment options available to her.
A spokeswoman for the SPSO said: “C was referred to a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist – who specialises in the medicine of the female genital tract and its disorders – regarding a skin lesion they had on their vulva.
“At the first appointment, the consultant removed the lesion under local anaesthetic.
“C complained to the board that the consultant decided to remove the lesion without properly examining it, that proper anaesthesia was not applied, and the consultant and nurse demonstrated a lack of preparedness.”
She continued: “The board provided assurances that the consultant did examine the lesion and proceeded with the procedure after discussing the options with C. Additional anaesthesia was applied when C said they could feel the incision.”
The ombudsman took independent advice and reviewed medical records and the spokeswoman added: “We found that the consultant failed to offer a third treatment option which was to have a smaller biopsy taken for the purpose of making a formal diagnosis and arranging a full excision at a later date.
“This may or may not have been the best choice, however it would have allowed C to make a more informed decision. There was no evidence to suggest C was not examined properly and we noted the consultant did apply further anaesthesia when C reported feeling pain.
“Overall, we concluded the General Medical Council principles of decision-making and consent were not fully met and as such the care and treatment provided was unreasonable. We upheld the complaint.”
The SPSO recommended NHS Highland consider using leaflets to supplement verbal information.
A spokesman for NHS Highland said it fully accepted the recommendations in the report from the SPSO.
