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Injured patient "failed" by NHS Injured patient "failed" by NHS
(30 minutes later)
A Carmarthenshire patient who suffered severe brain injuries after an assault was failed by the NHS, says a report.A Carmarthenshire patient who suffered severe brain injuries after an assault was failed by the NHS, says a report.
His family, who have not been named, paid large sums for care they should have received from the health service.His family, who have not been named, paid large sums for care they should have received from the health service.
The patient, named only as Mr B, was hospitalised in July 2006 for 10 months with severe brain injuries.The patient, named only as Mr B, was hospitalised in July 2006 for 10 months with severe brain injuries.
Hywel Dda Health Board, successor to Carmarthenshire Local Health Board (LHB), said it accepted the report and apologised for any distress caused.Hywel Dda Health Board, successor to Carmarthenshire Local Health Board (LHB), said it accepted the report and apologised for any distress caused.
Carmarthenshire LHB had agreed the patient qualified for continuing care and should receive physiotherapy, speech, language and occupational therapies after being discharged from hospital.Carmarthenshire LHB had agreed the patient qualified for continuing care and should receive physiotherapy, speech, language and occupational therapies after being discharged from hospital.
But his parents had to battle for that care to be given in subsequent years, paying out of their own retirement savings for the sessions.But his parents had to battle for that care to be given in subsequent years, paying out of their own retirement savings for the sessions.
I think the LHB failed to provide the service required in order for their son to make the best possible recovery Peter Tyndall, public services ombudsmanI think the LHB failed to provide the service required in order for their son to make the best possible recovery Peter Tyndall, public services ombudsman
Public services ombudsman, Peter Tyndall, said the stress placed on the family was unjustifiable and ordered that the family be refunded. The health board said it would comply.Public services ombudsman, Peter Tyndall, said the stress placed on the family was unjustifiable and ordered that the family be refunded. The health board said it would comply.
Mr Tyndall said in an interview with BBC Wales: "I think the LHB failed to provide the service required in order for their son to make the best possible recovery.Mr Tyndall said in an interview with BBC Wales: "I think the LHB failed to provide the service required in order for their son to make the best possible recovery.
"He became disabled after a serious assault and the family decided to support him at home, but the services they needed in order to do that weren't provided.""He became disabled after a serious assault and the family decided to support him at home, but the services they needed in order to do that weren't provided."
He added: "Funding for continuing health care is very complex and needs to be dealt with properly.He added: "Funding for continuing health care is very complex and needs to be dealt with properly.
"In this instance the paperwork, the various meetings were not properly documented and, in the end, they failed to make the right decisions and failed to keep a record of the decisions they made.""In this instance the paperwork, the various meetings were not properly documented and, in the end, they failed to make the right decisions and failed to keep a record of the decisions they made."
The patient, who requires 24-hour nursing care, suffered a major brain injury following an assault and was admitted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea.The patient, who requires 24-hour nursing care, suffered a major brain injury following an assault and was admitted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea.
He left hospital the following year but his father complained that Carmarthenshire LHB had failed to put in place the package of therapy recommended after an assessment of his son's needs.He left hospital the following year but his father complained that Carmarthenshire LHB had failed to put in place the package of therapy recommended after an assessment of his son's needs.
As the successor body to Carmarthenshire Local Health Board, we accept this report and apologise for any distress caused to the family involved Hywel Dda Health BoardAs the successor body to Carmarthenshire Local Health Board, we accept this report and apologise for any distress caused to the family involved Hywel Dda Health Board
The ombudsman's report concluded that "a large part of the package was not provided" and Mr B "did not receive sufficient physiotherapy, occupational therapy and had no speech and language therapy".The ombudsman's report concluded that "a large part of the package was not provided" and Mr B "did not receive sufficient physiotherapy, occupational therapy and had no speech and language therapy".
The review found that the LHB had "mishandled its response to Mr B's case" and the LHB's written decision making "was very confusing".The review found that the LHB had "mishandled its response to Mr B's case" and the LHB's written decision making "was very confusing".
His father also "spent large sums of money" on therapy which he should not have needed to pay out.His father also "spent large sums of money" on therapy which he should not have needed to pay out.
The ombudsman upheld the complaint and made a number of recommendations.The ombudsman upheld the complaint and made a number of recommendations.
Financial redressFinancial redress
These included repaying the full cost of the physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and the total cost of speech and language therapy.These included repaying the full cost of the physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and the total cost of speech and language therapy.
He also recommended other financial redress, and a new "multidisciplinary assessment" of Mr B's needs.He also recommended other financial redress, and a new "multidisciplinary assessment" of Mr B's needs.
The successor body to the LHB, Hywel Dda LHB, has agreed to implement all the recommendations.The successor body to the LHB, Hywel Dda LHB, has agreed to implement all the recommendations.
Hywel Dda Health Board chief executive Trevor Purt said: "As the successor body to Carmarthenshire Local Health Board, we accept this report and apologise for any distress caused to the family involved.Hywel Dda Health Board chief executive Trevor Purt said: "As the successor body to Carmarthenshire Local Health Board, we accept this report and apologise for any distress caused to the family involved.
"Arrangements are being put in place to implement the recommendations contained in the report.""Arrangements are being put in place to implement the recommendations contained in the report."