Decision Report 201508627

Summary

Mr C complained about the care and treatment he received during his admissions to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, in particular that the board failed to diagnose a brain injury and that they transferred him to another hospital for rehabilitation too quickly.

During our investigation we took independent advice from a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and a consultant neurosurgeon.

Both advisers felt that the board did not fail to diagnose a brain injury and that there was no evidence of suspicion of a brain injury. In particular, the neurosurgery adviser having reviewed Mr C's brain scan carried out in November 2013 was satisfied that there was no evidence of head injury. They also added that a further scan of Mr C's brain carried out in 2015 showed no evidence of a previous head injury.

The board accepted that Mr C had been transferred from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh too quickly and that he was discharged without the necessary aids. We found that the action taken by the board in response to these failings was reasonable and appropriate and would ensure there was no recurrence in the future.