Decision Report 201601173

Summary

Mr C complained about the treatment he received from his GP practice after a fall in which he sustained a head and neck injury. He thought the practice should have referred him to A&E.

We found the treatment Mr C received was reasonable. He attended the practice without an appointment and was seen by a triage nurse who assessed his injury. He was advised to take pain relief. Mr C later called the out-of-hours service and was given a pain-relieving injection and on-going pain relief. When the medication ran out he went back to the practice, was assessed, and was given more medication.

Mr C returned to the practice and told them he wanted to go to A&E. He attended A&E the same day and had an x-ray, which was clear. He was given advice about lying flat and exercise.

We found the treatment the practice provided was reasonable in the circumstances, given Mr C's presenting symptoms. Mr C's injury was assessed in the normal way by a triage nurse. No serious injury was evident. Mr C was, appropriately, advised to seek further advice should his condition deteriorate. When Mr C was assessed in A&E, no significant injury was found. We therefore did not uphold Mr C's complaint.