Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2014

Robert Jones

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2014-0190, written 20 Mar 2014. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report20 Mar 2014
Reference2014-0190
DeceasedRobert Jones
CoronerJonathan Layton
Coroner areaCarmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. 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.  Chief Executive of West Wales General Hospital Glangwili Carmarthen 

1 

CORONER 

I am Jonathan Mark Layton senior coroner, for the coroner area of Carmarthenshire and 
Pembrokeshire. 

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 14th May 2013 I commenced an investigation into the death of Robert Erryl Jones 
then aged 62. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 18th March 2014. 
The conclusion of the inquest was a narrative conclusion namely that the deceased had 
died as a result of complications following necessary bowel surgery. The medical cause 
of death was: 
1(a) multi-organ failure 
1(b) peritonitis 
1(c) post surgery for bowel cancer 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

(1)  Mr Jones was admitted to Glangwili Hospital on 21st March 2013 for a bowel 
operation which was undertaken the following day.  Mr Jones remained in 
hospital following the operation.  

(2)  Due to his declining health an emergency CT scan was arranged for the 8th May 

2013. 

(3)  There was an unreasonable delay in making the results of the CT scan available 
to the ITU and Surgical teams involved in Mr Jones’ care.  The report was not 
written up for some considerable time after the scan. 

(4)  When the results were made available there was a further unreasonable delay 

on the part of the ITU and Surgical teams in acting upon those results. 

(5)  This led to a significant delay in further surgery being performed. 
(6)  It became evident during the course of the inquest that this was not an isolated 
incident and this failure to pass over and act on CT scan results continues to 
occur. 

5 

CORONER’S CONCERNS 

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed this matter 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. 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The MATTERS OF CONCERN is as follows: 

That when a CT scan is performed the results should be made available promptly to the 
departments involved in the care of the patient and where appropriate the results should 
be acted upon without delay and within a reasonable time-scale.   

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you 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 the 15th May 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. 

8 

COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested 
Person: 

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 

20 March 2014                                             Signed: 

2

Responses

1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from Respondent Not Named (PDF)
Q G IG Bwrdd lechyd Prifysgol
eye N HS Hywel Dda

University Health Board

Swyddfeydd Corfforaethol, Adeilad Ystwyth

Eich cyf/Your ref: JML/343-13 Hafen Derwen, Parc Dewi Sant, Heol Ffynnon Job
Gofynnwch am/Please ask for: Patient Support Services Caerfyrddin, SA31 3BB
Rhif Ff6n /Telephone: 0300 0200 159
E-bost/E-mail: hdhb.patientsupportservices@wales.nhs.uk Corporate Offices, Ystwyth Building

; i Hafen Derwen, St Davids Park, Job’s Well Road,
Dyddiad/Date: 14° July 2014 Carmarthen, SA31 3BB
Mr M Layton

HM Coroner for Pembrokeshire & Carmarthenshire
Coroner’s office

Town Hall

Hamilton Terrace

Milford Haven

Pembrokeshire

SA73 3JW

Dear Mr Layton
Inquest into the death of Robert Erryl Jones

Thank you for your letter received by this office on 27 March 2014, enclosing a
report pursuant to Regulation 28 of the Coroners (investigations) Regulations
2013. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your letter.

The Health Board fully recognises the need to ensure CT scan results should be
made available promptly and will ensure that this is routinely monitored. The
Radiology department will be undertaking sampling of the scan to report time for
emergency CT scans.

All staff will be reminded of the need to ensure that the results of any diagnostic
test that is requested must be reviewed by the clinical team responsible for
requesting the test. It must be documented in the patient’s notes that the results
have been reviewed and any resultant action recorded.

Any test results which are given verbally, as maybe the case in an
emergency situation, must also be appropriately documented in the patient
record. We will also ensure that where patients maybe under the care of several
different clinical teams that test results are made available to any members of
those teams.

The Medical Director of the Health Board will also be including this information in
her regular updates to all clinical staff.

i i ildi ‘dd / Chair
Swyddfeydd Corfforaethol, Adeilad Ystwyth, Corporate Offices, Ystwyth Building, Cadeiry ‘
Hafan Derwen, Parc Dewi Sant, Heol Ffynnon Job, Hafan Derwen, St Davids Park, Job’s Well Road, Mrs Bernardine Rees OBE
Caerfyrddin, Sir Gaerfyrddin, SA31 3BB Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, SA31 3BB

Prif Weithredwr/Chief Executive
Mrs Karen Howell

Bwrdd lechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda yw enw gweithredol Bwrdd lechyd Lleol Prifysgol Hywel Dda
Hywel Dda University Health Board is the operational name of Hywel Dda University Local Health Board

Mae Bwrdd lechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda yn amgylchedd di-fwg Hywel Dda University Health Board operates a smoke free environment

I confirm that a report on these actions will be presented to the Health Board’s
Putting Things Right Committee in September. I will write to you further with an
update following this meeting.

If you require any further information in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.

Yours sincerely

Karen Howell
Chief Executive (interim)

Cc | on Independent Member & Chair of the Putting Things Right
Committee

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