Patient suffered unnecessary pain after delays in diagnosis: Investigation of a complaint against the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, 2 December 2025)

Summary

This report from the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman relates to the care and treatment the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust provided to a patient during the period of 7 February to 21 September 2022. The complainant believed the Trust misdiagnosed her Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction1 as muscular, rather than Disc Displacement without Reduction2 and consequently did not provide appropriate treatment. The investigation identified the Trust failed to carry out appropriate radiological investigations in diagnosing the complainant’s condition and clearly communicate the diagnosis in accordance with relevant standards.