Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2013

John William Tugwell

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2013-0319, written 1 Dec 2013. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report1 Dec 2013
Reference2013-0319
DeceasedJohn William Tugwell
CoronerMartin Fleming
Coroner areaSurrey
CategoryCare Home Health related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

IN THE SURREY CORONER’S COURT
IN THE MATTER OF:
__________________________________________________________
The Inquests Touching the Death of John William Tugwell
A Regulation Report – Action to Prevent Future Deaths
__________________________________________________________
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:
Coombe Dingle Nursing Home,
14 Queens Park Road,
Caterham,
Surrey.
CR3 5RB
1 CORONER
Martin Fleming ADC Surrey
2 CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS
I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the coroners and
Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 20 of the Coroners
(Investigations) Regulations 2013
3 INVESTIGATION and INQUEST
On 16th April 2013 I opened an inquest into the death of John William
Tugwell who, at the date of his deaths was aged 79 years. The inquest
was resumed and concluded on 22nd November 2013
I found that the cause of death to be: ‐
1a. Bilateral lobar pneumonia
1b. Acute subdural haemorrhage and cortical contusions
I concluded with Accidental Death.
4 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH
On 6th April 2013 Mr John William Tugwell was found at the bottom of
the stairs following an unwitnessed fall at the nursing home where he
was a resident. At the hospital he was found to have sustained skull
fractures and an extra cranial scalp haematoma. Very sadly he was not
considered fit for surgery and he subsequently succumbed to his injuries
on 9th April 2013.
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5 CORONER’S CONCERNS
During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed a matter that gave
rise to concern and which, in my opinion, there is a risk that future deaths
could occur by reason thereof unless action is taken.
The MATTER OF CONCERN is as follows. –
 Although Mr Tugwell was clearly a falls risk given his
documented history of previous falls at the home, he was allowed
unsupervised access to the two sets of stairs at the home.
I would be grateful if you could re consider the appropriateness of
allowing such vulnerable and unsupervised residents access to the stairs
given the potential for serious injury.
6 ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I
believe that Coombe Dingle Nursing Home have the power to take such
action.
7 YOUR RESPONSE
You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of its date; I
may extend that period on request.
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.
8 COPIES
I have sent a copy of this report to:



 Surrey Police
 CQC
 Surrey Safeguarding Adults
 Chief Coroner
 Coroners Society for England and Wales
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9 DATED this 1st December 2013
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