Woman dies following operation for broken hip

NHS Ayrshire & Arran ordered to apologise to patient's family

- KEVIN DYSON

NHS Ayrshire & Arran has been asked to apologise to the family of a patient who died following treatment for a broken hip.

They brought the complaint about both nursing care and medical care received at the hospital to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, but not all elements were upheld.

The Ombudsman’s report stated that the patient had surgery for the fracture but was diagnosed with a number of illnesses while in hospital and subsequently died.

The Ombudsman backed the family's criticism of nursing care as well as the way the complaint was handled by the health board.

But issues raised about the medical care were not upheld.

Following an independent review by a nursing adviser and a consultant geriatrician, the Ombudsman identified shortcomings in several areas of nursing care.