THE daughter of a woman who was left too long in the care of ambulance staff before being assessed by medics has received a £2,250 payout.

The Public Services Ombudsman has upheld a complaint by the woman’s daughter, identified only as Mrs C, that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board failed to provide adequate care while her mother – Mrs B – was later on a ward.

Mrs B was taken by ambulance to an unnamed emergency department after falling at home and the Ombudsman agreed she was not assessed within a reasonable time.

After she was admitted staff did not adequately monitor her condition and the Ombudsman found there was insufficient information in the records to show that staff responded to concerns about her condition.

He found that due to a lack of monitoring and poor record-keeping it was not possible to know whether action could have been taken to avoid Mrs B’s deterioration – and that was an injustice to Mrs C.

He ruled that Mrs B’s spinal care was reasonable but was unable to make a finding on whether her injury was adequately stabilised.

The board has agreed to apologise to Mrs C and to pay her £2,250.

The Ombudsman also recommended that staff be reminded of the importance of good record-keeping and of the appropriate timescales for assessing patients.