A Fife medical practice has been told to apologise to a woman who claimed her pleas about her late mother “were ignored”.
Mrs C complained to the Scottish ombudsman about the practice’s treatment of her mother, who had cancer, between September and November 2012.
Mrs A was eventually diagnosed with lung cancer and Mrs C said the family had made repeated requests for a chest X-ray “but these were ignored”.
The family believed an earlier X-ray might have allowed Mrs A’s cancer to be diagnosed sooner. They were also concerned the practice “failed” to follow up blood test results as they should have done and which again they thought would have led to an earlier diagnosis.
The ombudsman took independent advice from one of his medical advisers who said the practice had not failed to follow up on blood tests arranged by the hospital.
However, he considered the practice did not take reasonable steps in light of the results of the blood tests they themselves organised.
The adviser said there were repeated and high levels of inflammatory markers shown on the blood tests in late October 2012.
“These should have created a higher degree of suspicion and led to consideration of a referral rather than just arranging repeat tests,” he said.
The test results should have been considered in the context of an “unwell adult” and consideration given to referring the patient for other possible conditions, although the adviser also said it was unlikely this would have led to an earlier diagnosis.
He also thought Mrs A should have been referred for an X-ray in early November when swollen lymph glands were noted.
The ombudsman came to the conclusion while Mrs A’s care was reasonable up to the end of October 2012 and earlier diagnosis was unlikely in her case, on balance there were failings by the practice from early November 2012 onwards.
The ombudsman recommended the practice apologise to Mrs C for the failings identified, review the adviser’s comments and reflect on the decision-making processes used by GPs.