Woman died of tumour after getting all-clear from Raigmore Hospital

THE devastated parents of a woman who died from a brain tumour two months after being given the all-clear have accused NHS Highland of killing their daughter.

Amanda Robertson was rushed to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness four times in nine months after suffering extreme headaches, nosebleeds and vomiting.

But following a CT scan, the 40-year-old was diagnosed with a headache caused by trapped nerves and sent home with painkillers.

Her parents, Monty and Caroline Robertson, begged hospital staff for an MRI scan, but it was only given the green light weeks later when her condition worsened.

Miss Robertson died at her home in Alness on September 2, 2014 – six days before the scan was due to take place.

Watchdogs later said the tumour should have been spotted at the first scan, when she would have had a 90 per cent chance of survival.

Mrs Robertson (71) was a full-time carer for her daughter, who had autism.

"It’s hard enough dealing with the death of your child but when it’s caused by the very professionals who are there to help then it makes it all the worse," she said.

"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."

A complaint by the family was upheld by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) which criticised NHS Highland for its “lack of focus on the failings and ways to improve their services”.

The family was also awarded an undisclosed settlement following a civil action.

Miss Robertson first went to her GP in December 2013 complaining of headaches, nose bleeds, balance issues and a suspected lump in the back of her head.

An ear, nose and throat consultant removed a nasal ulcer in February 2014 and suggested sinus issues were causing the headaches which returned five months later. The same specialist ordered a CT scan and she was given the all-clear on July 14.

But on July 30, she was re-admitted to Raigmore after the vomiting and headaches continued.

“I was very scared about what was happening to her," Mrs Robertson said. “She was in a lot of pain and couldn’t get out of bed – my husband and I basically carried her into hospital. Seeing her suffer was agonising and left us all in a constant state of fear."

In August, a neurologist diagnosed a headache due to trapped nerves, but on the day of her scheduled discharge three days later she was violently sick again.

Another doctor pushed for an MRI scan and an appointment was arranged for September 8, but Miss Robertson died beforehand – the cause confirmed as a tumour on the central nervous system within the brain.

Her 71-year-old father said the hospital had not acted in time.

"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," he said.

Following investigations, the General Medical Council closed the cases against the specialist who diagnosed the trapped nerve and the family GP, although the GP was handed advice.

Sue Grant, head of clinical negligence at Digby Brown Solicitors who represented the family, said it had been a very traumatic experience for them.

NHS Highland said it could not comment on the clinical detail of individual cases but added: "We wish to state that we apologised unreservedly to the patient’s family and acknowledged the deficits in care and treatment provided to their late daughter.

"The board has taken on fully the ombudsman’s recommendations and conducted an internal review which was shared with the family."