Parents' fury over brain tumour blunder at Inverness hospital

A couple whose daughter died from a brain tumour two months after being given the all clear said the NHS had “ripped their world apart”.Amanda Robertson, 40, was rushed to hospital four times in nine months after suffering extreme headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness and vomiting.

Caroline and Monty Robertson have lost their daughter Amanda (Image: -)

Medics at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness carried out a CT scan and sent her home with painkillers after diagnosing a headache caused by a trapped nerves.

Her fearful parents Caroline and Monty begged for an MRI scan but it was only agreed to weeks later when Amanda’s condition worsened.

She died at home in Alness, Ross-shire, in September 2014, just six days before the scan was due to take place.

Watchdogs later ruled that the brain tumour should have been spotted at the first CT scan – and said Amanda would have had a 90 per cent chance of survival.

After winning undisclosed damages from NHS Highland, her parents have spoken out.

Mrs Robertson, 71, said: “It’s hard enough dealing with the death of your child but when it’s caused by the very profess-ionals who are there to help then it makes it all the worse.

“Amanda would still be alive if staff at Raigmore simply did their job.

“As far as we’re concerned NHS Highland killed our daughter and ripped our world apart.”

Amanda, who suffered from autism, first saw her GP in December 2013 and an ENT consultant later suggested sinus issues were to blame. The headaches returned, so the same specialist ordered a CT scan and, in July 2014,  she was given the all clear, before being re-admitted to Raigmore days later.

Mrs Robertson, who was full-time carer to Amanda, added: “I was very scared about what was happening.

“She was in a lot of pain and couldn’t get out of bed – my husband and I basically carried her into hospital.”

A neurologist diagnosed a trapped nerve headache in August 2014 but Amanda was violently sick on the morning of her discharge and an MRI was finally arranged.

Her mother asked their GP for an earlier slot but she was told this was impossible.

Mr Robertson, 71, a retired oil rig fabricator, said: “The hospital had loads of chances and time to act but did nothing. We cannot allow this kind of flippant approach to healthcare to go unchecked.

“Anyone who played a part in Amanda’s death needs to be held to account, at the very least so that standards improve and other families don’t go through what we have.”

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman upheld the family’s complaint and said there was “no doubt” the tumour would have been operable had it been discovered earlier.

The General Medical Council investigated the specialist who diagnosed the trapped nerve and the family’s GP, taking no action against the former and handing down advice to the latter.

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