Investigation reports

The mother of a nine-year old boy who tragically passed away following treatment for a rare form of leukaemia complained about the treatment he received in hospital.

A man complained that an injection in his lower back left him in severe constant pain.

We found that the Northern Trust carried out the procedure properly, but did not fully explain to the man that it may lead to his symptoms worsening.

Nursing staff in the Belfast Trust should have referred a patient to doctors after they noticed possible signs of a stroke.

A man with Crohn’s Disease asked the Southern Trust to provide him with an additional bedroom and bathroom.

We found the Trust’s decision to only approve a new bathroom was appropriate.

We found the Belfast Trust was right to encourage a patient with cystic fibrosis to persevere with its chosen course of treatment, but criticised a lack of community dietetic support which left her at potential risk of harm.

A man questioned why medicine ordered from Scotland to treat his sick wife took two weeks to arrive.  We found that the Belfast Trust’s efforts to procure and transport the medicine were reasonable and appropriate.

A woman complained that hospital delays contributed to her mother’s early death. We found a number of failings in her care and treatment. 

A woman complained about the Southern Trust’s decision to make her late sister’s estate liable for unpaid nursing costs.

A woman complained about the care her elderly mother received over a 10 day period in the Mater Hospital.

We upheld parts of the complaint, including over how the hospital dealt with an incident in which the patient was in an agitated state, and the way it managed her food intake.  We found no failings over the complaints relating to sedation, toileting, and the patient's access to fluids.

The quality of care given to a young person with complex medical needs deteriorated when she turned 18.  

We criticised the Belfast Trust for not doing enough to prepare for her transition to adult care, noting with concern the lack of overall policies for managing this process.