Dying cancer patient left in ‘unnecessary pain’ at Borders hospital

David KnoxBBC Scotland NewsBBCRoy Owen was admitted to Borders Common Hospital for palliative ache administration in 2023Nursing employees at a Scottish hospital have been criticised for leaving a dying man in “pointless ache” throughout his three months on their ward.Roy Owen from Selkirk was admitted to Borders Common Hospital (BGH) in Melrose for 24-hour palliative care in Might 2023.However the 79-year-old, who had prostate most cancers which unfold to his bone and backbone, was repeatedly denied ache reduction, whereas additional pleas from his spouse, Ann, have been additionally ignored.A prolonged investigation by the Scottish Public Providers Ombudsman (SPSO) has recognized “severe medical failings… which led to a big private injustice to a weak individual”.NHS Borders has been ordered to make a full apology to Mr Owen’s widow, in addition to guaranteeing all employees are absolutely skilled in ache administration.Mr Owen, seen right here on his wedding ceremony day, lived within the Borders for 20 yearsThe SPSO probe discovered that Mr Owen was in ache for many of the 16 weeks he spent on a medical ward on the BGH.On solely two events throughout his total time on the hospital did ward employees assess him as requiring further ache reduction to ease his misery.It additionally found recommendation from consultants was ignored, there have been prolonged gaps in ache assessments, and complaints from Mr Owen’s household have been brushed beneath the carpet. The SPSO’s damning report reveals that the ward had run out of ache reduction medicine, keys couldn’t be accessed for opening the drug cupboard, and there have been situations when Mr Owen took the incorrect medicine.His widow stated: “The rationale my husband was on the hospital was for palliative ache administration, so I discover it odd that the perspective was so informal and positively not sufficient.”After I went to go to him, he can be determined for assist – even after I went to inform the nurses, they’d usually do nothing, different instances they’d supply him paracetamol.”Quite a lot of our family and friends – many who have been ex-NHS staff – came around Roy they usually have been appalled by what was occurring. I knew issues have been dangerous, however the investigation report exhibits it was a lot worse on the hospital than any of us thought.”Jim BartonThe ombudsman discovered that Mr Owen was left in pointless ache at Borders Common HospitalMr Owen had moved to Selkirk greater than 20 years earlier from Saffron Walden, the place he ran his personal timber and conservatory corporations.He rapidly grew to become an energetic member of the group, notably with the city’s cricket membership, the Roxburgh Singers and St John’s Church.However in 2018 he was recognized with stage 4 prostate most cancers, which had unfold to his backbone and decrease limbs.Regardless of greater than 4 years of outpatient remedy on the Western Common Hospital in Edinburgh and the native Macmillan centre within the Borders, Mr Owen’s most cancers had continued to unfold.Consultants ultimately referred the grandfather for palliative care, firstly at residence – the place he was prescribed heavy dosages of morphine by the native well being centre – after which at Borders Common Hospital from 15 Might 2023.He died on the hospital on 4 September that yr. The SPSO investigation into Mr Owen’s care and remedy on the area’s essential hospital concluded: “(Mr Owen) was cognitively impaired and (his) ache was not adequately assessed or managed though (he was) admitted for ache administration arising from metastatic prostate most cancers and had complicated ache wants.”This meant (Mr Owen) was left in pointless ache. Nursing employees didn’t comply with specialist recommendation and instruction in managing (Mr Owen) and (his) ache.”Documentation and report maintaining was poor and fell under an appropriate normal.”PA Archive/PA ImagesRoy spent the ultimate 16 weeks of his life on a medical ward at Borders Common HospitalMrs Owen made makes an attempt to complain about her husband’s remedy after his first week on the medical ward.Regardless of placing her considerations in writing after assembly with nursing managers, she didn’t obtain a response for greater than six weeks.And the response by means of extra formal channels was equally dismissive.Mrs Owen stated: “I had points about Roy’s ache administration from the beginning, and likewise his mattress placement within the ward, which was subsequent to the door, and he was often capable of get off the bed and attempt to come residence.”I additionally had severe points concerning the attitudes of two nurses particularly – however the responses I acquired have been terrible.”It is horrible seeing your husband in such ache, however it’s virtually as dangerous having to take care of hospital administration.”The SPSO probe discovered that there have been additional failures by NHS Borders to “make sure the grievance response was correct and substantiated by medical information”.The well being authority has now been ordered to apologize for the failings in its nursing care, remedy and grievance dealing with.It’s going to even have to offer proof that every one employees are competent in using ache evaluation instruments, that every one sufferers will now obtain person-centred care, and that recommendation from relations and specialists might be thought-about.A spokesperson for NHS Borders stated: “The standard of care that (Mr Owen) acquired was not of the usual we anticipate for our sufferers. “Now we have accepted the suggestions recognized in full and are making the modifications required in order that related experiences are prevented sooner or later. “We’re sincerely sorry for the impact that this had on (Mr and Mrs Owen) and their household. Now we have provided a full apology to (Mrs Owen) and their household.”