NHS 24 errors

It is disturbing that NHS 24 has, yet again, made a misdiagnosis and yet again been criticised by yet another sheriff, following yet another fatal accident inquiry – this time into the death of Mr Gordon Greig, who died of a heart attack and did not have indigestion as apparently suggested by a telephone-based nurse adviser (your report, 14 May).

Over the phone it must be difficult to identify serious medical conditions which have similar symptoms to minor illnesses. Mr Greig's fatal illness was again misdiagnosed, even when a hospital doctor saw him.

This tragedy highlights the importance of NHS 24 learning from mistakes as pointed out by sheriff after sheriff. In the past, call-handlers could only consider symptoms individually rather than collectively. Has that previously criticised procedure changed?

MALCOLM W EWEN

Ferryhills Road

North Queensferry