Problem pregnancy
...An ultrasound would have revealed an empty uterus and a suboptimal rise in serum beta HCG levels, leading to a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy...
Hockey twist
...The surgeon expresses “surprise” that the diagnosis was missed in A&E and that there was no onward referral to an on-call orthopaedic specialist...
Case study: Incisional hernia
...Mrs W had undergone a hysterectomy through a previous caesarian section scar and serous fluid is now leaking from the wound...
Incisional hernia
...seeing omental tissue evident one week after surgery would be consistent with observations (by the surgeon) of a “large area of deep breakdown” within the wound...
Slow-healing socket
...The expert questions why Ms N did not consider something more than just a slow-healing socket – especially when the adjacent molar had been extracted with normal healing...
Sudden stroke
...Later that day Mr S collapses at home and is taken by ambulance to A&E with left-side weakness and severe headache...
Case study: Policy delay
Medical case study
Swollen leg
...The GP suspects a DVT and makes arrangements to refer Ms J to the local thrombosis clinic but there is no record of a referral made that same day...
Elderly visit
...The GP mentions the option of full-time care for Mrs M in a residential care home. She overhears his comment and becomes very upset...
Case study: Slip on the ice
...Three weeks after his slip on ice, Mr H attends his GP with a limp and persistent hip pain...