NHS Ayrshire and Arran have apologised after a man died following his discharge from hospital without the recommended medication.

The man, known as Mr A, had surgery after rupturing his patella tendon and was sent home.

Some days after his surgery, Mr A suddenly became very unwell and died following a cardiac arrest.

The health board failed to follow the instructions of Mr A’s surgeon and apologised for “causing Mr A unnecessary and prolonged pain and discomfort”.

A report by the Scottish Public Services Ombusdman (SPSO) found that during the few weeks following his surgery, there was delay and a lack of clarity over how Mr A was to access follow-up care and treatment.

His GP said they had not received a copy of the discharge letter and Mr A did not know who was to arrange his follow-up at his local orthopaedic department.

The cause of Mr A’s death was recorded as a pulmonary embolism, a condition when a blood clot breaks off and ends up blocking a blood vessel in a person’s lungs. This resulted from deep vein thrombosis in his calf.

On behalf of Mr A’s partner, a complaint was made that he had not been prescribed with chemical thromboprophylaxis drugs to prevent thrombosis on discharge and that his discharge was not handled properly.

SPSO found that, although there was “no strong evidence to suggest the medication would have prevented Mr A’s pulmonary embolism”, staff should be made aware of when to use chemical thromboprophylaxis after surgery of this type.

The SPSO concluded that Mr A’s discharge from hospital was not carried out in a “reasonable and appropriate manner”.

In particular, that the policy of “providing immediate discharge letters to people who live outwith the area was not followed on this occasion”.

Joanne Edwards, director of Acute Services at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, said: “I offer my sincere apologies that we did not meet the high standards of care we strive for causing Mr A unnecessary and prolonged pain and discomfort.

“I also apologise that Mr A’s family had to raise concerns about his care and treatment at an already distressing time.”

Ms Edwards said that NHS Ayrshire and Arran have fully accepted all the recommendations in the SPSO report.

She said: “We have addressed the issues highlighted and made the appropriate changes, in terms of following discharge policy and planning; the arrangement of follow up discharge appointments and chemical thromboprophylaxis procedures following this type of surgery.”