A PATIENT’S sight might have been saved if a hospital had given him recommended treatment, a regulator has found.

The health service ombudsman highlighted the failing at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust as part of a report into 100 cases around the country investigated over a three month period.

She also found there had been unnecessary delays in carrying out tests and getting results back for a cancer patient at Brighton and Sussex University hospitals NHS Trust, which led to her waiting longer to start treatment.

The patient later died although the ombudsman said her cancer was already so advanced, it was unlikely she would have survived longer even with earlier treatment.

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust was criticised for the way it treated a patient’s wrist fracture, leaving her with restricted movement.

The cases, which cover the period between October and December last year, were dealt with by the ombudsman, Dame Julie Mellor, because complaints made by patients had not been settled locally.

Dame Julie said: “Too many complaints are coming to us which could have been resolved more quickly by the NHS.

“When people pluck up the courage to complain they are all too often met with defensive and inadequate responses.

“Complaints need to be dealt with properly, so that people are given answers and to help prevent any failures from happening again.”

One patient, known as Mr N, lost the sight in his right eye linked to a condition called polymyalgia rheumatica, which causes muscle pain and stiffness.

He was on steroid treatment for the condition but when his sight started to deteriorate and he developed headaches, the strength of the steroid he was given by staff at East Sussex Healthcare did not meet recommended guidelines.

The ombudsman service said it could not say definitively the recommended treatment would have saved Mr N’s vision, but it would have given him a better chance.

A separate complaint about how an elderly patient in her 90s was monitored at a rehabilitation unit run by the trust was also partially upheld.

East Sussex director of nursing Alice Webster said: “As a trust we encourage people to provide feedback on any aspect of our service and take all concerns raised by patients, carers and visitors seriously.

“Whenever and however a concern is raised we work with the patient and their family to investigate the issues and apologise when things have gone wrong and take action to improve our services."

The investigation following a complaint against Western Sussex Hospital NHS Trust was upheld, with the ombudsman saying if the correct treatment had been given, the lack of movement in the wrist was likely to have significantly improved.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals was told the cancer patient and her husband suffered “unnecessary anxiety and distress” and the complaint was partly upheld.

APOLOGIES, PAYMENTS AND PROMISES TO PERFORM BETTER

CASE 1: East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust – patient’s sight may have been saved.

Mr N was diagnosed polymyalgia rheumatica, which causes muscle pain and stiffness, in 2012.

He was treated with a steroid but was urgently referred to the trust in 2014 after he developed headaches and double vision.

His dosage gradually increased from 15mg to 80mg but Mr N subsequently lost the sight in his right eye.

The ombudsman found guidelines said the drug should have been given intravenously in doses of 500mg to 1g daily for three days.

The ombudsman could not say definitely the recommended treatment would have saved the sight but having it would have given him a better chance.

The trust apologised, paid Mr N £1,000, and drew up an action plan to stop a similar incident happening again.

CASE 2: Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust – failure to identify a displaced wrist fracture, leading to it healing in an abnormal position.

Mrs H fractured her wrist following an accident at home in 2012.

Her bone was manipulated back into position and placed in a cast.

Another X-ray was taken 12 days later at a fracture clinic, another cast applied and an appointment scheduled for four weeks later.

The wrist was subsequently found to have healed in an abnormal position.

The ombudsman said during her appointment after 12 days, the X-ray showed the fracture had returned to the position it was in before the manipulation.

The ombudsman said a simple surgical procedure should have taken place instead of making an appointment for four weeks later.

As a result the patient had been left with a loss of movement which affected her ability to conduct daily tasks.

The trust paid Mrs H £1,000 and drew up an action plan to show it had made improvements.

CASE 3: Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals – unacceptable delays in cancer care.

Mrs M was sent to the trust with problems with her abdomen and bowels in 2013.

However a planned scan was delayed for a month because a referral was lost in the system.

Further tests and a biopsy for suspected colon cancer were then delayed for another six weeks for the same reason.

Tests showed the colon was clear but more checks revealed Mrs M had ovarian cancer and she died 10 months later following chemotherapy.

The ombudsman said there were unnecessary delays in carrying out tests and getting the results, which meant Mrs M could have started her chemotherapy six weeks earlier.

However her cancer was already so advanced it was unlikely she would have survived longer even with earlier treatment.

The ombudsman said Mrs M and her husband had suffered unnecessary anxiety and distress.

The trust apologised, paid Mr M £250 and developed an action plan to make sure the failings found were not repeated.