Man dies at Birmingham NHS hospital trust after medical staff missed abnormalities on x-ray, says report

A 65-year-old man died after doctors missed opportunities to identify abnormalities on his x-ray, an investigation by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) revealed.

The patient identified as Mr. B was admitted to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust on 18 May 2019 after being unwell for several days, as per the report.

Mr. B’s sister Mrs. A had brought a complaint about the care and treatment provided to her late brother, who had an incarcerated hiatus hernia.

She was told that her brother was likely suffering from constipation and dehydration.

Mr. B was admitted to hospital suffering from abdominal pain and vomiting. An x-ray of his abdomen was taken, which two doctors said did not show any apparent abnormalities.

The following day the patient’s health deteriorated and he was taken to an Acute Medical Unit. A chest x-ray later that day showed abnormalities.

“This X-ray should have been carried out the day before. Shortly afterwards, Mr B’s condition deteriorated and he suffered a heart attack. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful and Mr B sadly died on the morning of 19 May,” said the Ombudsman’s report.

The investigation came a year after an inquiry by the Ombudsman highlighted failings in how x-rays and scans are reported and followed up in the NHS.

A PHSO investigation found medics failed to notice a blockage in his intestine on the x-ray and due to this, he did not receive treatment that could have saved his life.

Ombudsman Rob Behrens said: “The case of Mr B highlights the devastating impact mistakes like this can have. If the Trust had picked up the abnormalities on his x-ray sooner, Mr B could still be with his family today.

“As the NHS faces the challenge of rebuilding after the pandemic, it must not lose momentum in improving the way x-rays and scans are handled during a patient’s care.”

The Ombudsman has recommended the Trust to pay Mrs. A £10,000 for the “considerable distress and uncertainty she has suffered because of her brother’s death”, acknowledge and apologise for the failings, develop an action to address the failings, and explain what it would do differently in the future.

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