Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2013

Doris Phoebe Miller

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2013-0318, written 28 Nov 2013. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report28 Nov 2013
Reference2013-0318
DeceasedDoris Phoebe Miller
CoronerTom Osborne
Coroner areaMilton Keynes
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

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The Office of Tom Osborne
Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Milton Keynes

Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Milton

Chief Executive Keynes, MK9 3EJ

NHS England .
Hertfordshire and South Midlands Area Our Ref: TROT
Charter House Your Ref: 0000000
Parkway Reply To: Coroner
Welwyn Garden City a, ;
Hertfordshire Direct Line: 01908 254326
AL8 6JL E-Mail:

tom.osborne@milton-keynes.gov.uk

28" November

Dear Sir/Madam,
Re: Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths

|, as the Senior Coroner for the Coroner Area of Milton Keynes, 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.

On 8h July 2013, | commenced an investigation into the death of Doris Phoebe
Miller. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 26"" November 2013.
The conclusion of the inquest was that Mrs Miller had died from natural causes.

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) Mrs Miller's notes and records were unavailable to the GP surgery at Broughton
Gate despite having been transferred to the surgery, following the closure of the
Willen practice in April 2013. Indeed | was informed by a GP who gave evidence
before me that she was still, in November 2013, unable to access the patient records.
Over 2000 patients were transferred to Broughton Gate and if the circumstance
above continues there is a possibility that lives will be put at risk.

(2) On the 23” July 2013 the GP had requested the district nurses to attend Mrs
Miller to carry out an urgent blood test. The GP was dismayed to discover a week
later that the blood sample had not been taken and that the results, therefore, were
not available to her. There appears to be no system for effective communication
between the GP surgery and the district nurses. Again this gives rise to a concern
that lives may be at risk.

(3) During the inquest hearing it became apparent that the surgery at Broughton Gate
did not have access to a pulse oximeter to measure Mrs Miller’s oxygenation. This is
a relatively inexpensive item and should perhaps be available in every doctor's
surgery throughout the country.

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 January 23 2014. |, 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.
| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the family as properly
Interested Persons. | have also sent a copy to Care Quality Commission 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.

| await hearing from you with your response.

i
\

Tom Osborne
Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Milton Keynes

This report is being sent to:

e Family of Doris Miller
Chief Coroner
Care Quality Commission
The Practice

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