Shropshire medical practice faces investigation after widower's complaint

Shifnal and Priorslee Medical Practice is to be investigated by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, following the death of Angela Gittins in January.

Mrs Gittins died at the age of 65 of a burst bowel, caused by multiple inflamation of her organs, in turn caused by diverticular disease.

Her widower, Nigel Gittins, of Priorslee, launched a complaint against the practice, who he claimed did not take enough account of her medical history when treating her in the month before she died.

He said: "I made an official complaint to the practice manager at Shifnal and Priorslee medical practice about the care and treatment that the practice provided.

"The complaint was investigated by the practice in accordance with their procedures and I was sent a copy of their conclusions which stated that the advice given to my wife was appropriate.

"I was not satisfied with these conclusions and I have since referred my complaint to Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

"After reviewing the complaint, by the paperwork I sent and a subsequent telephone conversation I have now received a letter from the Ombudsman stating that it has completed its assessment and has decided to formally investigate my complaint.

"The investigation will look at the following based on the information I have given them."

Mrs Gittins suffered with irritable bowel syndrome and diverticular disease, an illness which causes muscle spasms in the colon, when treating her in the month leading up to her death.

He says his wife was treated by doctors for minor illnesses in the month before she died, and does not feel that her medical history was looked into in enough detail.

The investigation will look at the care and treatment that the practice provided between December 2015 and January 2016 and, in particular, that the practice failed to adequately diagnose and treat his wife's condition.

Steven Mather, a spokesman for the ombudsman said that it was not at liberty to comment on individual cases

The medical practice says it will be fully cooperative with the investigation.

Sheila MacLucas, practice manager at Shifnal and Priorslee Medical Practice, which has branches on Shrewsbury Road in Shifnal and Gatcome Way in Priorslee, said: "The doctors and staff at Shifnal and Priorslee Medical Practice would like to take this opportunity to pass on their sincere condolences to the patient's family.

"We will fully engage with the ombudsman investigation in the hope that a satisfactory outcome is reached for the patient's family.

"Given that it has yet to be concluded, together with issues in relation to patient confidentiality, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.

"However we want to assure our patients that we always aim to provide the best possible care."