NHS Fife Apologizes for Surgical Oversight on Vagus Nerve Tumour

NHS Fife has issued a formal apology after failing to identify a tumour growing on a patient’s vagus nerve prior to surgery, leading to significant health complications. The oversight resulted in the patient experiencing paralysis of the stomach, causing food and liquid to remain in the stomach for extended periods, as well as vocal cord palsy.

The incident prompted a complaint to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO), which subsequently sought advice from an independent ear, nose, and throat consultant. The SPSO’s investigation concluded that the care provided to the patient was “unreasonable” due to the failure to recognize the lesion’s involvement with the vagus nerve and the inadequate discussion of associated risks and consequences before the surgery took place.

In its report, the SPSO noted, “We considered that it should have been made clearer to the patient that the surgery was likely to lead to injury or loss of function of the nerve.” Furthermore, the report indicated that the circumstances should have activated the duty of candour process, which requires health boards to be transparent with patients when things go wrong. The watchdog found a clear failure in acknowledging the errors that occurred during the surgical procedure.

The patient’s complaint was upheld, leading to NHS Fife being mandated to apologize for its shortcomings in care. The SPSO also emphasized the necessity for the health board to evaluate similar cases more carefully in the future and to clearly outline the risks and consequences of surgical interventions to patients.

In response, Gillian McAuley, Director of Nursing at NHS Fife, acknowledged the missteps, stating, “We strive to provide all patients with the highest standard of care, and in this instance, we accept that aspects of the care we provided fell short of those high standards.” She confirmed that the organization has formally apologized to the patient and is committed to implementing the SPSO’s recommendations to ensure improvements are made.

NHS Fife faces increased scrutiny as it works to address the findings of the SPSO. The situation underscores the importance of thorough pre-surgical evaluations and clear communication between healthcare providers and patients regarding potential risks. Such measures are crucial for fostering trust and ensuring patient safety in medical practices.