An MP has written to secretary of state for health and social care Sajid Javid after a mum raised concerns about the treatment her daughter was receiving at Southmead Hospital.
Vicky Archer was first taken into hospital in November and, after being in and out of hospital for a few weeks, she was admitted into Southmead Hospital on January 24, prior to being discharged into a local care home last week. However, her mum Alison is unhappy with the decision, saying that "it is wrong that she has been discharged when she is clearly unwell".
The 20-year-old was first diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis back in 2016, with the condition at that point being triggered by a mosquito bite while on holiday in Menorca. Alison claimed that her daughter has had six confirmed relapses since and, upset about the way she has now been treated by Southmead Hospital, she got in touch with her MP.
Read more: Yate mum speaks of daughter's 'awful' health battle six years after mosquito bite
In the letter, dated last Wednesday (April 6), the MP for Thornbury, Yate and surrounding areas Luke Hall said: "I have been contacted by my constituent, Alison Archer, regarding her daughter, Vicky Archer's care at Southmead Hospital and the medical options that are currently available for Vicky's current inflammatory condition.
"My constituent is concerned that her daughter is not receiving the required care as a current in-patient at Southmead Hospital and is concerned that specific issues and questions regarding Vicky's situation are not being addressed by Southmead Hospital and North Bristol NHS Trust."
The MP wrote that he "would be grateful for any attention this could receive" and called for "an urgent review" of the case.
Alison claimed that Vicky was discharged on Friday (April 8) without her parents being able to see her, adding she has been transferred to a care home. She claimed that Southmead Hospital isn't communicating with them anymore and that initially they didn't know where she had been sent to.
The mum said Vicky phoned her in distress earlier this week saying that she had a rash and that it was really painful. She added: "It is terrible. They have done it before where they have said that she is medically fit when she was unwell.
"I think it is wrong that she has been discharged when she is clearly unwell. She still has a rash and it is awful to see her being left like that.
"She is clearly not medically fit."
Alison said she thinks her daughter needs to be in hospital and that they have now put in a formal complaint to Southmead Hospital about her treatment, adding that she has also written to the General Medical Council, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and has also complained to the CQC. The mum said that she has asked for her daughter to be referred to a specialist in London and that she was also considering legal action.
What the public bodies say
A North Bristol NHS Trust spokesperson said: “Due to patient confidentiality, we are unable to comment on the specifics of this case.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Patients should receive the highest possible care and support they need in the right place, at the right time, and we expect everyone in hospital to be treated fairly - meaning no patient should be discharged until it is safe to do so.
“Existing guidance already states people should be discharged with support that is appropriate for their needs.”
A CQC spokesperson said: “CQC has written to Mrs Archer regarding the care of her daughter Vicky at Southmead Hospital, run by North Bristol NHS Trust. Whilst we do not have the powers to investigate individual complaints, we always use the information we receive to help shape when and where we inspect, and to continually monitor services."
The GMC said: "We are unable to give details about complaints, nor are we able to confirm whether we are investigating doctors, as this does not fall within the requirements of our publication and disclosure policy. We are only able to disclose information which is publicly available about individual doctors on the medical register on our website."
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman declined to comment, saying it was not able to comment on individual cases.
