Stroke patient died from Covid-19 pneumonia after health board failed to follow coronavirus guidance

A stroke patient died after developing Covid-19 pneumonia after an NHS health board failed to comply with guidance.

The child of a patient complained about the care and treatment given to their parent following their admission to hospital after suffering a stroke.

The patient’s condition deteriorated after testing positive for coronavirus while in hospital, where they later died from Covid-19 pneumonia.

During their admission, the patient was transferred between wards which their child said was “unnecessary and increased risk of exposure” to the virus.

The patient’s child raised concerns during their admission as there were known cases of Covid in neighbouring wards and the patient had been shielding prior to going into hospital.

Additionally, the child complained their parent was not offered the opportunity of home rehabilitation.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde responded to the claims stating that that national infection prevention and control guidance for Covid-19 was followed at all times.

They added that it “wasn’t always possible” to accommodate all shielding patients by putting them in a single room.

The health board also said that they could not meet the patient’s rehabilitation needs at home due to capacity issues with their community stroke team.

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) investigated the complaints, with advice from a nursing adviser specialising in infection control and upheld the complaints.

The watchdog found that the board did not did not comply with relevant guidance on Covid-19 by failing to document the assessment of the patient’s Covid-19 risk pathway during their admission.

The SPSO also found that there was an “unreasonable delay” in isolating the patient from others once they tested positive for Covid.

However, it was found that the care provided to the patient in treatment for their stroke was “reasonable and in keeping with their diagnosis”.

The watchdog ordered the health board to apologise and recommended a number of improvements as well as asking for evidence the service had implemented them.

A NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokesperson said: “For reasons of patient confidentiality, we cannot comment on individual cases, however we would like to apologise to the family of the patient involved and we send our deepest sympathies.

“We would like to apologise for the failings outlined by the SPSO and reassurance to the public that NHSGGC are working to meet all the requirements made by the SPSO and to ensure that organisational learning and improvements in the care which we offer our patients.”