Patient died from stroke after NHS Grampian GP practice stopped blood thinning medication

A patient died from a stroke after a GP practice stopped their prescription for a blood thinning medication.

The NHS Grampian practice has been ordered to apologise to the family of the patient, after there was a lack of communication about the decision to halt the medication given to their late parent.

The family made a complaint to The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO), who took advice from an independent GP advisor.

It was found there were “clear indications” for the patient to be on blood thinners, which is an anticoagulant medication, and that it was “unreasonable” for the medication to be stopped without a replacement in place.

It added the decision to stop the medication was not “fully informed” and that the GP practice did not undertake timely blood tests.

Failings were found around the administration of blood tests, while communication with the patient’s family and relevant specialists did not happen in a timely manner.

The SPSO added a Significant Adverse Event Review (SAER) carried out by the GP practice was not in line with relevant national guidance.

The complaint made by the patient’s family was upheld by the SPSO.

The watchdog ordered the GP practice to apologise to the patient’s family for the failings identified in its report.

It also set out a series of recommendations to make things right in future, including appropriate blood tests carried out in line with relevant guidance when anticoagulant medication is stopped or replaced, with test results appropriately actioned.

Patients should also be assessed prior to the stopping of anticoagulation medication with appropriate consideration given to the risks and communication sought with relevant specialists and family members prior to a decision being reached.

The GP practice was asked to provide evidence of the implementation of recommendations set out in the report by a deadline set by SPSO.

NHS Grampian has been contacted for comment.