Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2013

Winston Llewellyn Johns

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2013-0279, written 30 Oct 2013. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report30 Oct 2013
Reference2013-0279
DeceasedWinston Llewellyn Johns
CoronerLouise Hunt
Coroner areaPowys, Bridgend and Glamorgan Valleys
CategoryCare Home Health related deaths
Organisation namedWelsh Ambulance Service NHS 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.

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1)

NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:
1. Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust

2. Department of Health
3

4 CORONER

| am Louise Hunt senior coroner for the coroner area of Powys Bridgend and Glamorgan
Valleys

[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 30" May 2013 | commenced an investigation into the death of Winston Llewellyn
Johns. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 24 October 2013. The
conclusion of the inquest was Mr Johns died from injuries sustained as a result of
advised CPR during a 999 call on the 22™ May 2013. The low blood sugar of 1.4
reported during the 999 cail was not factored into the decision making.

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Mr Johns was a know diabetic. His son visited him and found him unrousable. He
checked his blood sugar which was 1.4 (low). He called 999 and explained his father
was diabetic and had a low blood sugar. His father was snoring. He was initially advised
to maintain the airway in the chair his father was sitting in. The son described the
breathing as normal. The son was then advised to put his father on the floor and
commence CPR. He did as advised. During CPR Mr Johns sustained a sternum fracture
and multiple rib fractures. The paramedics arrived and gave a glucose drip to restore the
blood sugar to 6.8. Mr Johns was admitted to hospital where he later died from
pneumonia caused by the rib and sternum fractures

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) Mr Johns son clearly confirmed the low blood sugar at the beginning of the call. This
critical important information was not factored into the advice provided to him by the
operator.

(2) The computer programme used by the ambulance service does not take into account
critical clinical information as a result the operator incorrectly advised CPR despite the
risks that entails.

[° |

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 25th December 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.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Persons Mr John’s junior. | have also sent it to the Department of Health who may find it
useful or of interest.

| 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.

|

[DATE] [SIGNED BY GORONER
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