Health chiefs have been ordered to apologise for an unreasonable delay in starting a patient’s osteoporosis treatment.
The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman also found there had been failings in communication between the patient and staff at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.
The SPSO upheld complaints made by the child of the patient and have recommended the health board apologise to the family.
The health watchdog has also recommended that the health board put in place a “clear treatment pathway for patients starting osteoporosis treatment which is based on the relevant national guidance so as to avoid unreasonable delay in the start of their treatment”.
The child complained about the care and treatment provided by the board to their parent who was admitted to hospital with severe back pain after suffering a suspected fall and later diagnosed with osteoporosis.
They complained about the physiotherapy and occupational therapy assessments carried out during the patient’s admission, the communication by staff and a lack of recognition of the patient’s cognitive impairment - a condition that affects the ability to think, concentrate, formulate ideas, reason and remember.
The child also complained about the lack of written information about osteoporosis/fragility fractures and how they should be managed after the patient’s discharge and follow up care, in particular, the failure to carry out a special type of x-ray that measures the density of bones.
