A young woman who was struck by a cyclist in Exeter and sent home from Accident & Emergency (A&E) with an undiagnosed fractured skull has prompted England’s Health Ombudsman to call for urgent action in hospitals to prevent similar failings.
The 20-year-old, who wishes to remain anonymous, was hit by a cyclist while crossing a road in Exeter city centre on December 7, 2022. After being taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, her injuries were not fully assessed, resulting in her discharge despite a serious head injury.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has since found that doctors at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust missed critical signs of injury and failed to properly assess her condition. The Ombudsman is now urging hospitals to ensure patients with head injuries are properly diagnosed and given appropriate treatment.
The young woman spent three hours in A&E following the accident, suffering from a range of injuries, including a three-centimetre cut on her forehead, facial swelling, pain in her neck, chipped teeth, and nausea. Doctors only treated her cut with glue and discharged her with verbal head injury advice.
The following day, her symptoms worsened. Her parents took her to the minor injuries unit at the Royal South Hampshire Hospital, where she was immediately referred to A&E at University Hospital Southampton. There, an X-ray and CT scan revealed a fractured skull, a broken rib, and extensive facial bruising.
Her parents filed a formal complaint with the PHSO, which found that the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital had failed in its duty of care. The Trust has since agreed to the Ombudsman’s recommendations, which include issuing a formal apology, acknowledging their failings, and implementing an action plan to prevent similar errors.
The woman’s mother expressed her frustration: “We were shocked and angry when we found out doctors had missed the fracture and broken rib. It felt like because she was a young person going into hospital, there was no-one to really advocate for her. They missed major red flags, and I literally can’t comprehend it.”
She added that her daughter is still struggling with anxiety and stress, which has affected her education and daily life.
Rebecca Hilsenrath, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, stated: “As well as the physical pain and discomfort from sustaining a head injury, this young woman has experienced ongoing disruption, including to her education, at a key time in her life. This patient manifested a range of symptoms and was let down badly.”
“When mistakes in healthcare occur, they must be acknowledged and addressed to ensure a better service in the future. We hope the NHS will listen and learn from what has happened.”
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has pledged to ensure that future patients are given proper care, including written advice for managing symptoms after discharge.
