In relation to your story in which a poor woman’s broken heel was missed and diagnosed as a sprained ankle (The Argus, August 22), Worthing Hospital must be a comedy of errors as Cathy Stone (director of nursing and patient safety) says, “We already have a robust system of review in place for all X-rays taken in A&E, which are routinely examined by a consultant at a later date.”
She goes on to say, “If there is any concern over the original diagnosis, we contact the patient immediately.”
Through this reassuring statement are we to assume that, firstly, the robust system of review takes place more than six months after the initial X-ray (as the X-ray was in March and we are now almost in September)? This is ridiculous as the bone would have healed wrongly, as in Ms Harrison’s case.
Alternatively, did the consultant who reviewed the original X-ray miss the fracture?
Either way, this woman has been severely let down by the NHS.
Kevin Bollbus, Falmer Village, Brighton
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