Cambridge hospital apology after catheter left in longer than planned

A man was left in "significant pain" after his catheter was not removed in a "timely manner".

The patient, known only as Mr U, had a tube inserted as part of a bladder examination at Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH).

After not being able to get an appointment to remove it until the following month, he went to A&E.

The Ombudsman upheld a complaint he made and the hospital's trust said treatment "fell below" the standard.

On 20 May, 2021, Mr U had a procedure to examine the inside of his bladder and a catheter was inserted.

He was told it was planned to be removed on 24 May.

Mr U called the hospital on 21 May to ask if the appointment to remove the catheter had been made.

The Trust said they had no more appointments for the 24 May. A nurse was asked to call him back the next day but was running a complex clinic and could not take on anymore patients or calls.

Leakages of blood and urine

Mr U called again on 24 May, but the trust told him the clinic did not have capacity to see him. He was booked on the next available appointment for 14 June.

Mr U experienced urinary incontinence with leakages of blood and urine, pain and distress, so attended A&E to have the catheter removed on 24 May.

While the health Ombudsman noted that the trust had apologised, it said not removing the catheter in a timely manner was "a failing".

In a report, the Ombudsman said: "The trust said it has put service improvements in place to stop this happening again.

"But, the trust has not provided evidence to show how it will monitor the changes it has made. We do not think the trust has done enough to put things right."

The Ombudsman recommended the trust produce an action plan to show how it would monitor the service improvements it has made.

A CUH spokesperson said: "The trust fully accepts the recommendation of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman for an action plan showing how we are monitoring the service improvements made.

"Our apologies remain with Mr U, whose treatment fell below the excellent standards we strive to deliver."

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