Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2013

Ricky Anderson

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2013-0227, written 9 Sep 2013. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report9 Sep 2013
Reference2013-0227
DeceasedRicky Anderson
CoronerPatricia Harding
Coroner areaMid Kent and Medway
CategoryMental Health related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

1. Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust

1 | CORONER

| am Patricia Harding, senior Coroner, for the Coroner area of Mid Kent and Medway

2 | CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009
and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.

3 | INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 23" May 2012 | commenced an investigation into the death of Ricky Anderson. The
investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 27" August 2013. The conclusion of
the inquest was that Ricky Anderson killed himself while suffering from depression by
means of suspension

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

On the 29" March 2012 Ricky Anderson was informally admitted to hospital
experiencing command hallucinations with suicidal thoughts. As his symptoms coincided
with substance misuse it was felt they were drug related rather than representing
psychotic illness. He was discharged on the 5" April 2012 but readmitted two days later
when his symptoms returned. He continued to express suicidal and delusional thoughts
intermittently whilst at hospital and was discharged earlier than planned on the 16" April
2012 with medication which had improved his symptoms.

He went to stay with a relative for a short time but did not see anyone from the Access
team after his return to the area.

On the morning of the 21** May 2012 Ricky Anderson was found at Chatham Cemetery
suspended from a tree. There was no evidence of third party involvement, a note in his
handwriting was found on his person indicating his reasons for taking his life.

5 | CORONER’S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In
my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you.

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. —

(1) It was established in evidence at the inquest that practitioners from the Kent and
Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust did not inform Mr. Anderson’s GP of his
involvement with primary care on either occasion he was admitted to hospital, resulting
in him not being able to obtain a further supply of medication without the intervention of
his family

(2) Evidence was given at the Inquest that following Mr. Anderson’s discharge from
hospital a number of attempts were made to contact him to assess his wellbeing and
needs. Although Mr. Anderson was spoken to briefly, it was accepted by the Trust that
too much reliance was placed on information from family members. As a result Mr.
Anderson had virtually no contact with the Access team prior to his death. | understand
that a practice note has recently been drafted which is intended to be used as guidance

Mr. Anderson's discharge from hospital occurred at an earlier stage than had been
planned as he wished to leave and was deemed safe to do so. As a consequence, a
care plan had not been put in place to establish his needs. | heard evidence that
following Mr. Anderson’s death procedures have been put in place to ensure that this
situation does not reoccur

6 | ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe your
organisation] have the power to take such action.

7 | YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by %th October 2013. |, the coroner, may extend the period.

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out
the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

8 | COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Person

| am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response.

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary
form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful
or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your
response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

9 | [DATE] 9™ September 2013 [SIGNED BY CORONER] Prttubhy

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