Trust did not give patient enough time to consider risks of surgery: Investigation of a complaint against the Northern Health & Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, 14 August 2025)

Summary

This report from the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman relates to the care and treatment the Northern Health and Social Care Trust provided to a patient on 12 April 2023 in relation to the treatment of grade two haemorrhoids. The investigation established two main failures in the complainant’s care and treatment. The first was the failure to provide the complainant with pain relief on discharge. The second was the failure to discuss with the complainant the risk and benefits of the proposed surgery during the outpatient appointment to enable her to make a fully informed decision.