Patient with addiction issues discharged from hospital without 'adequate consideration' of vulnerability

A health board did not “adequately consider” the vulnerability of a patient with addiction issues who died shortly after being discharged from hospital.

The patient was initially admitted to intensive care after suffering a head injury from a fall.

They were later transferred to a different hospital after their condition improved, where they received addiction treatment as well as further scans and reviews.

After this, the patient was deemed fit for discharge. The patient died at home shortly afterwards.

The patient’s parent complained to the Scottish Social Services Ombudsman (SPSO) that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had failed to provide a “reasonable standard” of medical or nursing care.

They also complained that there was a failure by the health board to communicate with addiction and social services prior to their child’s discharge.

In putting together their report, the Ombudsman received independent advice from a consultant neurosurgeon and a nurse.

It was found that the level of medical and nursing care the patient received was appropriate, and this part of the complaint was not upheld.

However, when the patient was discharged, their vulnerability was not “adequately considered”, and the board did not communicate “appropriately” with social and addiction services.

As part of its recommendations, the SPSO said that when vulnerable individuals are discharged, especially when they live alone, their level of support should be recorded.

The SPSO added that arrangements should be discussed with the patient, their family, and social services.

Dr Claire Harrow, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s deputy medical director for acute services, said: “For reasons of patient confidentiality, we cannot comment on individual cases, however we would like to apologise to the family and we send our deepest sympathies for their loss.

“The SPSO report found that both the medical and nursing care received was appropriate, but we accept the recommendations that have been made.

“We are working with our teams to ensure learning is taken forward and the recommendations are met in full.”