Heartbreak parents slam health chiefs
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THE heart-broken parents of an Alness woman who died from a brain tumour two months after being given the all-clear have accused NHS Highland of killing their daughter.
Amanda Robertson was rushed to Raigmore Hospital four times in nine months after suffering extreme headaches, nosebleeds and vomiting.
But following a CT scan, the 40-year-old was diagnosed with a headache caused by trapped nerves and sent home with painkillers.
Her parents, Monty and Caroline Robertson begged hospital staff for an MRI scan, but it was only given weeks later when her condition worsened.
Miss Robertson died at her home in Alness on September 2, 2014 – six days before the scan was due to take place.
Watchdogs later said the tumour should have been spotted at the first scan, when she would have had a 90 per cent chance of survival.
Mrs Robertson (71) was a full-time carer for her daughter, who had autism. She said: “It’s hard enough dealing with the death of your child but when it’s caused by the very professionals who are there to help then it makes it all the worse.
“Amanda would still be alive if staff at Raigmore simply did their job. As far as we’re concerned NHS Highland killed our daughter and ripped our world apart.”
A complaint by the family was upheld by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) which criticised NHS Highland for its “lack of focus on the failings and ways to improve their services”.
The family was also awarded an undisclosed settlement following a civil action.
NHS Highland said it could not comment on the clinical detail of individual cases but added: “We wish to state that we apologised unreservedly to the patient’s family and acknowledged the deficits in care and treatment provided to their late daughter. The board has taken on fully the ombudsman’s recommendations and conducted an internal review which was shared with the family.”
Sue Grant, head of clinical negligence at Digby Brown, who represented the couple, said it hasd been a traumatic experience for them.
