Health Service Commissioner : first report for session 1978-79 : investigations completed August to November 1978.

  • Great Britain. Health Service Commissioner
Date:
1978
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Health Service Commissioner : first report for session 1978-79 : investigations completed August to November 1978. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    97/260 (page 95)
    Case No. W.231/77—78—Loss of dentures Complaint and background 1. The complainant’s 79-year-old father was admitted to hospital on 18 April 1977 where he underwent an abdominal operation on the evening of the same day. The complainant states that shortly after the operation his father’s dentures were lost and despite a search by the ward staff could not be found. He also states that although his father was advised by the ward sister and the surgeon that the hospital would meet the cost of replacement dentures, the local Health District of the Area Health Authority (the Authority) denied responsibility for the loss and refused to make payment. Investigation The complaint about the loss of the dentures 2. When I started my investigation, the Authority told me that the matter had been thoroughly investigated at ward level, extensive searches having been made, without success, in an effort to trace the missing dentures. I was told that because the nursing staff stated they could not recall cleaning or fitting them for the patient it had been assumed that they had either been taken home by his wife or had never been brought into hospital. In view of these circumstances, the district administrator was not prepared to accept responsibility for the claim. 3. The complainant told my officer that his father’s dentures were missed two or three days after the operation. He was certain that his father had his dentures with him in hospital as he recalled seeing him wearing them during times of visiting and on occasion had seen him taking them out again as his visitors were leaving. He said his father’s mouth had been sore after the operation but because his mother did not like to see her husband without teeth, his father always made sure that he wore them during visiting times. The discomfort of his dentures was often discussed with him by his visitors. He said that when the loss was discovered it was reported by the patient to the staff on the ward but a diligent search by members of the staff failed to locate the dentures. 4. The complainant said that his father was told by the ward sister and the surgeon that the hospital would meet the cost of replacement dentures. Consequently, after he was discharged, his father approached his dentist to obtain new dentures urgently as he was to attend his grandson’s wedding in the near future. To obtain a new set in time he had to have them made privately at a cost of £45. The receipt for the account was sent to the hospital on 9 June and on 29 June the hospital replied saying that payment could not be made. 5. The complainant then wrote to the district administrator, who replied on 25 July stating that no member of the nursing staff could recall seeing the patient’s dentures or cleaning them. He said that while he appreciated the _ distress caused to the complainant’s father, the staff had made every effort to try and find the dentures but that any loss at that time could not be accepted as the responsibility of the Authority; it was for patients to look 213)