Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2013

Margaret Theresa Corrigan

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2013-0233, written 17 Sep 2013. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report17 Sep 2013
Reference2013-0233
DeceasedMargaret Theresa Corrigan
CoronerJohn Pollard
Coroner areaManchester South
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedStockport NHS Foundation Trust
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.

Coroners
Manchester South

17 September 2013
Chief Executive
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Poplar Grove
Stockport
SK2 7JE

Our ref: JSP/KA/00777-2013
Your ref:

Dear Chief Executive
RE: Margaret Theresa CORRIGAN (Deceased)

| write this letter to you pursuant to Regulation 28 of the Coroners (Investigation)
Regulations 2013 and pursuant to paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 of the Coroners and
Justice Act 2009.

On 26 March 2013 | commenced an investigation into the death of Margaret Theresa
Corrigan who was born on 31 August 1924. The investigation concluded at the end of
the Inquest on 6 September 2013 and the conclusion of the Inquest was that she
died as a result of an Accidental Death. The medical cause of death given was 1a)
Cerebellar and inferior parieto-occipital infarct due to 16) Vertebral artery dissection
due to 1c) Peg fracture and under Part 2: Clostridium Difficile infection.

The circumstances of the death were that on 18 January 2013 the deceased fell on
the stairs at her home address and fractured her odontoid peg.

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 as follows

1. Communication between and among medical and nursing staff at your hospital
was ineffective and lacked clarity.

2. The patient was seen in the Emergency Department and it was agreed in
evidence that the fracture ought to have been diagnosed at that time but it was
not, thus meaning the patient was left for a further two days in additional pain
and at risk of further spinal damage.

3. The patient remained on the orthopaedic ward when she was suffering at that
stage from medical problems and ought properly to have been transferred to a
medical team.

4. Whilst she was an in-patient in the hospital, she was issued with an out-patient
appointment to attend an orthopaedic clinic.

John S Pollard LI.B. Hons, Senior Coroner Coroner's Court
Mount Tabor, Mottram Street
Joanne Kearsley LI.B. Hons Grad.Dip Psych, Area Coroner Stockport SK1 3PA

Telephone: 0161 474 3993
Facsimile: 0161 474 3994

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

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report
namely by the 12 November 2013 and |, the Coroner, may extend that period. Your
response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken setting out the
timetable for such action otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

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

daughter of the deceased. | am also under a duty to send to 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 publication of your
response by the Chief Coroner.

| therefore look forward to hearing from you within the time stipulated.

fol faithfully
n S. Pollard

Senior Coroner
Cc to:
1. Mrs Langshaw

2. Chief Coroner
3. Derek Winter, Senior Coroner

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