A woman died after doctors failed to spot gallstones. Investigators looking into a case at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board have said that the woman's death might have been prevented if appropriate treatment was given. A report by the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales described how there was a failure to identify the woman's gallstones in January 2021.
The woman, known as Mrs K, died a year later on January 31, 2022 from billiary sepsis. The Ombudsman report said: "The Ombudsman concluded that if Mrs K had been treated appropriately at the outset, her pancreatitis would have been treated successfully and her deterioration and death may have been prevented. The Ombudsman also found little to no evidence that the seriousness of Mrs K’s condition was appropriately communicated in October to her and her family either before or after treatment.
" READ MORE: 'My partner died in front of me after I'd begged for an ambulance' READ MORE: 'I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and given two years to live, this is what I wish I'd known' "The Ombudsman also found that the Health Board’s response to the complaint lacked candour and there had been a further lack of objective reflection during the Ombudsman’s investigation when the Health Board had sight of the Ombudsman’s Clinical Advice. " The health board has been orded to pay the woman's daughter £4,000 and provide a full apology from the chief executive. For the latest health and Covid news, sign up to our newsletter here.