Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2014

John Fox

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2014-0098, written 5 Mar 2014. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report5 Mar 2014
Reference2014-0098
DeceasedJohn Fox
CoronerFiona Wilcox
Coroner areaLondon Inner (West)
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
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

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

1. The Chief Executive,
St George’s Hospital,
Blackshaw Road,
Tooting,

London.
SW17 0QT.

2. Head of Physiotherapy,
St George’s Hospital,
Blackshaw Road,
Tooting,

London.
SW17 0QT.

1 | CORONER

| am Dr Fiona Wilcox, HM Senior Coroner, for the coroner area of Inner West London

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 7" January 2014 | commenced an investigation into the death of Mr John Patrick
Fox, aged 93years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 4"" march
2014.

The conclusions of the inquest were as follows:

Injury or disease causing death:
(a) Ventricular arrhythmia

(b) Ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and aortic
regurgitation

(c) pneumonia

Il Fractured neck of femur (surgery 23/12/2013) and osteopenia.

How, when and where Mr Fox came by his death:

Mr Fox sustained an accidental fall at his home address on 22/12/2013. He
fractured his left neck of femur and was admitted to St Georges Hospital. Despite
all active treatment for his fracture and underlying heart problems, he died on
01/01/2014.

Conclusion of the coroner as to the death:
Accidental fall in combination with severe underlying natural disease.

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Evidence was taken from his daughter that Mr Fox had a severe kyphosis and

ankylosing spondylitis. This would have meant that he was at high risk of chest infection
post operatively, making early mobilisation and physiotherapy especially important.
During his in patient stay there were 3 bank holidays and a weekend, during which the
access to physiotherapy was limited to an on call service only.

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. —

That there is a reduced level of physiotherapy services on bank holidays and
weekends, increasing the risk of post operative complications developing in
vulnerable patients.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you
[AND/OR your organisation] have the power to take such action.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by 30" April 2014. I, 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:

| 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.

_ 5" March 2014

Dr Fiona Wilcox

HM Senior Coroner Inner West London.

Related reports

Other reports by Fiona Wilcox

See all →

More reports categorised “Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths”

See all →

Track Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths

See every Prevention of Future Deaths report matching Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths, and how often a new one appears.

What would an alert for this have sent me? Search the full text

Free to try — the preview shows the real matches and how many arrived in the last 12 months. Your first email alert is free.

These reports are published by the Chief Coroner's office at judiciary.uk and are © Crown copyright. The text here is reproduced from the published PDF so it can be searched. If something on this page is wrong, or you are a person named in it and want it reviewed, email drcjar@gmail.com and we will act promptly.