Woman suffers stroke after anti-coagulants not offered
The treatment of a woman left severely disabled by a stroke after medics failed to offer her long-term blood thinning drugs has been criticised.
The Ceredigion woman had a heart condition and had been taking aspirin.
After she had a blood clot she was put on warfarin for six months, but at the end of the course she was not given any anticoagulants despite being at risk of a stroke.
A complaint by her daughter was upheld and the family has been apologised to.
The patient's daughter initially complained to the Public Services Ombudsman after her mother suffered a debilitating stroke, which she believed could have been avoided had she been prescribed aspirin.
But when the case was investigated, the ombudsman found that she should have been offered long-term warfarin to prevent the risk of a stroke.
The watchdog found there were "serious failings" at both GP and health board level to ensure she was on the correct medication.
Dr Gordon of the Teifi Surgery, Llandysul and Hywel Dda health board were told to apologise to the patient's family and pay her £1,000 compensation each for the distress caused.
They were also told to tighten procedures.