NHS Lanarkshire says it has apologised to a mum who suffered a fourth-degree perineal tear during childbirth.

The woman's complaint alleged that her care involved a forceps delivery, which caused her "significant injury". She said she also had to undergo surgery to repair the tear.

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman found that the care and treatment were reasonable, but the health board’s communication with the patient was not.

Doctors should have done a better job of communicating with the mum-to-be and of obtaining her consent to use the forceps for the birth, the watchdog found.

The ombudsman also said that the board failed to handle the mother’s complaint properly and that its response was not “reasonably clear".

It said there were “significant delays” in the board’s commu

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