A watchdog has told NHS Tayside to review procedures at Ninewells Hospital’s acute medical unit.
It comes after a woman had a heart attack at the facility, prompting her to lodge a complaint with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO).
The woman, known only as Mrs C, had been referred to the acute medical unit at Ninewells after reporting increasing chest and upper abdominal pain over a 10-day period.
Her heart rate was taken, and blood tests, and she was reviewed by a consultant later that night who said her condition did not relate to her heart.
Blood test results were not available during this review, however, and were not checked until the following morning and though she was placed on a heart monitor overnight, she was not reconnected after visiting the toilet.
The blood test results subsequently confirmed she had suffered a heart attack.
The SPSO carried out an investigation after Mrs C complained and found that: “While some of her care and treatment was reasonable, there were some failings. In particular, the delay in reviewing the blood test results and in not reconnecting Mrs C to the heart monitor were not considered to be reasonable.
In their findings, the SPSO said all nursing staff at the unit should be reminded of the importance of keeping patients attached to cardiac monitors and “also the importance of following up test results.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said: “We have written to the patient involved in this case and apologised.
“We have also taken action to address the recommendations made.”