Hospitalslammed on care plan

Wishaw General Hospital has been criticised over a care plan for a patient with Parkinson's disease and dementia.
Wishaw General Hospital was criticised by the Scottish Public Services OmbudsmanWishaw General Hospital was criticised by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
Wishaw General Hospital was criticised by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman

The patient’s wife, known only as Mrs C, complained she wasn’t consulted properly about his treatment.

Now the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has recommended health chiefs make a formal apology and ensure carers are “fully and appropriately included in decision-making”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The patient, who has since died, was in the hospital for several months before he was moved to a care home.

Mrs C said she had welfare power of attorney which allowed her to look after his interests and consent to treatment as he no longer had capacity to do this.

The ombudsman consulted an independent senior mental health professional and found that Mr C’s care plan had been “inadequate” and his wife “was not as involved as she should have been in decisions about her husband’s care and treatment”.

Her involvement in multi-disciplinary meetings was “inconsistent and sporadic”.

However, no evidence was found to support Mrs C’s complaint that the “medication regime was changed inappropriately”.