Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2014

William Kent

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2014-0056, written 31 Jan 2014. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report31 Jan 2014
Reference2014-0056
DeceasedWilliam Kent
CoronerKaren Henderson
Coroner areaSurrey
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedAshford Hospital NHS Trust
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.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1.  Chief Executive, St Peters and Ashford hospitals Chertsey 
2.  Chief Executive, Guest Medical 
3.  MHRA 

1 

CORONER 

I am Karen HENDERSON, Assistant Coroner for the coroner area of 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 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 
On  January  23rd  2014  I  commenced  an  investigation  into  the  death  of  William  George 
KENT,  years  of  age.  The  investigation  concluded  at  the  end  of  the  inquest  on  23rd 
December 2013. The medical cause of death given was: 

1a. Ischaemic heart disease 
1b. Coronary artery atheroma, calcific aortic stenosis and chlorine inhalation 
1c. 

2. Infective exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 

My  narrative  conclusion  was:  Whilst  general  frailty  of  health  and  ischaemic  heart  disease 
were likely to be co-factors it is clear that inhalation of chlorine was a significant contributing 
trigger which led to death 

4 

5 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 
Mr Kent was admitted into St Peter’s Hospital Chertsey on 20th December 2012 after a fall at 
home. He was transferred to Ashford Hospital on 25th December 2012 for rehabilitation and 
management of his social circumstances and further treatment of his leg ulcers. At or around 
0800  on  30th  December  2012  a  reasonably  substantial  quantity  of  ‘Haz-Tab’  granules  was 
sprinkled  on  a  large  amount  of  urine  on  the  floor  next  to  Mr  Kent’s  bed  and  left  for 
approximately ten minutes. This caused sore eyes and coughing for the person dispensing 
the granules. Shortly thereafter Mr Kent was seen to become acutely short of breath and in 
obvious respiratory distress. He was maximally treated at Ashford Hospital but there was no 
improvement  in  his  condition  and  he  was  transferred  to  St  Peter’s  Hospital,  Chertsey  for 
further  treatment.  Unfortunately  this  was  no  successful  and  Mr  Kent  died  at  20.16  on  30th 
January 2012.  
CORONER’S CONCERNS 

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise for concern. In my 
opinion there is a risk that future death 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.  Lack  of  awareness  of  the  potentially  harmful  side-effects  of  Haz-Tab  granules  for 

urine spillages  

2.  Limited time given over to the teaching of the side-effects of cleaning products such 
as Haz-Tab granules at the induction of new staff and at yearly mandatory infection 
control updates  

RT3857 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3.  Lack of clarity on how Haz-Tab granules should be used in clinical spillages  
4.  An  under-emphasis  of  the  potential  hazardous  consequences  from  the  release  of 
noxious  gases  when  Haz-Tab  granules  are  in  contact  with  urine  (with  or  without 
contamination of blood)   

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 
In  my  opinion  action  should  be  taken  to  prevent  future  deaths  and  I  believe  you  and  your 
organisation: St Peters and Ashford Hospital NHS Trust, Guest Medical, and MHRA 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 22nd April 2014. I, the coroner, may extend this 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 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons: 
(Guest Medical) who may find it useful or of 

(daughter) and 

interest.  

I 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: 31-1-2014                                                     SIGNED: Dr K Henderson 

RT3857

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