Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2014

Essa Shah

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2014-0250, written 2 Jun 2014. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report2 Jun 2014
Reference2014-0250
DeceasedEssa Shah
CoronerTom Osborne
Coroner areaBedfordshire & Luton
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 (1) 

NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest. 

THIS REPORT is being sent to: 

Ms Pauline PHILIP 
Chief Executive 
L & D University Hospital 
Lewsey Road 
Luton 
LU4 4DZ 

1 

CORONER 

I  am  Mr  Tom  OSBORNE,  Senior  Coroner  for  the  Coroner  Area  of 
Bedfordshire and Luton. 

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. 
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/schedule/5 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

On the 30th of October 2013 I commenced an Investigation into the death 
of Essa SHAH aged 8 weeks. The Investigation concluded at the end of 
the Inquest on 21st May 2014 at which I recorded an ‘Open Conclusion’,  
the medical cause of death being : 

I (a)  Unascertained (Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy) 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Essa Shah was eight weeks old when he went to sleep in the same bed as 
his mother on 17th October 2013 following a feed.  Mother and father were 
smokers.  He was later found unresponsive. 

5 

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: 

1.  That the literature, setting out the dangers of co-sleeping which the 
hospital hand  to new mothers being discharged, is only available in 
the English Language. 

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In  my  opinion  action  should  be  taken  to  prevent  future  deaths  and  I 
believe  you,  as  the  Chief  Executive  of  the  Luton  &  Dunstable  University 
Hospital, 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 28th July 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(s): 

The Family 
Secretary of State for Health 

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 

Dated this 2nd day of June 2014                                        

                                                                   …………………………………… 
                                                                   Tom OSBORNE 
                                                                   Senior Coroner 
                                                                   Bedfordshire & Luton

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 Luton Dunstable University Hospital (PDF)
Our ref: PMP/ams

28 July 2014

Coroner's Officer ail
HM Coroner's Office e-mail:

The Court House
Woburn Street
Ampthill
Bedfordshire
MK45 2HX

Dear Mr Smith

Inquest touching the death of Essa SHAH
Inquest held on 21st May 2014 at Coroner’s Court, Ampthill

Thank you for your Regulation 28 Report, dated 2™ June 2014, in response to the death of
Essa Shah.

The Trust has considered the following matter of concern:

1) That the literature, setting out the dangers of co-sleeping which the hospital hand to new
mothers being discharged, is only available in the English language.

At present, women are given two leaflets that advise of the dangers of co-sleeping: upon
transfer from the Delivery Suite to the ward they are given a “Caring for your Baby at Night”
leaflet published by UNICEF as part of their Feeding Pack; upon discharge from the ward to
home, they are given the “Reduce the Risk of Cot Death” created by the Department of
Heath but now printed by the Trust as the Department of Health (DoH) have ceased to
produce it.

In addition to leaflets, the Trust has produced a video, in three languages (English, Polish
and Urdu) which is available on the Trust's website and on DVD. The video includes a
section about discharge and caring for your baby at home. The video was produced in
response to a consultation with local communities who told us that whilst it was common for
women to speak their mother tongue, they were often unable to read it.

The Community Midwives have prompt sheets to ensure that safe sleeping practices are
discussed with women face to face and they will shortly be equipped with iPads to facilitate
communication with anyone who is uncertain as to what they are being told verbally.

The Trust is unable to facilitate the translation of the Department of Health leaflet, which is
only available in English, due to the considerable practical and financial implications. As the

Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS)

ABS foungot.an Tast

DoH no longer produces this leaflet, we are not able to approach them for their assistance.
However, UNICEF produce a leaflet called “Sharing a bed with your baby” which is available
in 11 languages, three of which are relevant to the population we serve. The Trust will now
ensure Feeding Packs are created containing this leaflet in Bengali, Punjabi and Urdu; the
leaflet is not available in Polish so we will continue to use the video we have produced and
verbal communication.

We hope this addresses your concerns.

Yours sincerely

Pauline Philip
Chief Executive Officer

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