NHS Highlands hospital 'missed red flags' as patient forced to sit in A&E for hours with fractured spine

A health board has been ordered to apologise after a patient with a fractured spine was left sitting in A&E for hours.

The patient was brought to an NHS Highlands hospital after a fall at their home.

They were left sitting for a “prolonged period” before receiving an assessment, which found they had suffered fractures in their thoracic spine.

A complaint was later made to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO), who found that NHS Highlands missed “a number of red flags”.

The watchdog stated that doctors failed to recognise the significance of limb weakness and incontinence in the patient, which indicate a potentially urgent or serious underlying condition requiring immediate medical attention.

It also said that it was “unreasonable” for the patient to have been left to sit for a prolonged period before being assessed, given their symptoms.

“There were also missed opportunities to complete a more thorough neurological examination, with a failure to appreciate the presence of a spinal injury and to realise the significance of the signs of limb weakness and incontinence,” the SPSO said.

“We also found that the board failed to immobilise [the patient] while awaiting the results of a CT scan and during their transfer between hospitals.”

The complaint was upheld, and the health board was ordered to apologise.

A spokesperson from NHS Highland said: “We sincerely apologise to the patient and their family for the failings in care identified by the ombudsman.

“Patient safety is our absolute priority, and we are committed to learning from this case.

“Our chief executive has already written to the patient to apologise and explain the measures that have been carried out to reflect our commitment to making meaningful improvements to ensure it does not happen again.”