The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman has upheld complaints about care provided to a woman who died at South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen. The patient attended the emergency department on December 23, 2021, with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was admitted to a ward. She died on January 2, 2022.

Her daughter complained to the Western Health and Social Care Trust about the treatment received and the family's handling after the death. The Trust conducted a Serious Adverse Incident investigation into the case.

Ombudsman Margaret Kelly identified failures in the care and treatment on the day of death. She also found issues in the Trust's management of the complaint and Serious Adverse Incident processes, including delays in communication with the family.

Kelly noted problems with retention of records related to the admission. She determined these failures caused losses of opportunity for the patient and led to concern, uncertainty, and frustration for the complainant.

The Ombudsman upheld some complaints but found others, such as the early stopping of non-invasive ventilation, reasonable based on independent medical advice. She did not conclude the failures affected the patient's prognosis.

Kelly directed the Trust to apologise to the family, provide training to involved staff, and develop an action plan to address the identified issues.