Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2014

John Thorpe

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2014-0340, written 23 Jul 2014. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report23 Jul 2014
Reference2014-0340
DeceasedJohn Thorpe
CoronerPaul Cooper
Coroner areaSouth Lincolnshire
CategoryOther 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.

AR W Forrest ium, rrcp, rrcpath
GMC Number: 1333523
Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1)
NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:
fl:

Chair — Lincolnshire East CCG

2. EEE Chief Operating Officer, Lincolnshire East CCG

3. EEE Chief Nurse, Lincolnshire East CCG

4. Professor Sheona Macleod, Director of Education Quality and Post
Graduate Dean, East Midlands Local Education and Training Board, 1 Mere

Way, Ruddington Fields Business Park, Ruddington, Nottingham, NG11
6JS

CORONER

| am Paul Cooper, Assistant Coroner for the Coroner's area of South Lincolnshire.

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.

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 8" April 2014 | commenced an investigation into the death of John William THORPE,
age 78. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 19™ June 2014. The
conclusion of the inquest was SUICIDE.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

In February 2014 the deceased consulte (iy Foundation Year 2 trainee
doctor at Swineshead Medical Group Practice, for non-specific symptoms including low

AR W Forrest i, rrcp, FRcPath
GMC Number: 1333523

Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire

mood. A variety of investigations were initiated, with no significant pathology being
elucidated.

He again consulted] on 12" March 2014 complaining of feeling more tired
and with low mood. Feelings of hopelessness and self-harm were elucidated. A PHQ-9
screening test was administered with a score of 16/27 being obtained, indicative of
moderately severe depression. Mr Thorpe was given a prescription for 20 milligrams of
the anti-depressant fluoxetine daily and asked to self-refer himself to "IAPT" (Improving
Access to Psychological Therapies). He was given no firm appointment to be seen again
at the practice, but the plan noted in the clinical records was to see him again in 1
months time.

On 24" March 2014, Mr Thorpe left his home, taking his dogs for a walk. His dogs were
found tethered to a railing adjacent to the Forty Foot Drain, a large drainage dyke, at
Swineshead Bridge. Footprints, matching his boots were found tracking down into the
dyke and he was found floating in the middle of the dyke.

The post mortem indicated that the cause of death was drowning and that he had been
taking fluoxetine regularly in the days before his death as well as diphenhydramine.

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 deceased was asked to "self-refer" himself to [APT rather than a direct
referral being made on his behalf to an appropriate mental health resource.
His widow was particularly critical of this at the Inquest, commenting she
attempted to fill the form in for him but it wasn't completed and she believed her
husband would have responded if a direct referral had been made. |
appreciate this may be ‘standard practice’ but the point is surely not in every
case and Doctors should be encouraged to use their discretion more

2 That no intention to follow him up, with a definite appointment being given or by
telephone contact, is recorded in the clinical records.

3 That knowledge, elicited at the inquest, that "sometimes when

AR W Forrest um, rcp, FRePath
GMC Number: 1333523

Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire

anti-depressant is started it can give you more energy” and that Mr Thorpe had
a history of a previous suicide attempt was apparently not considered together
with the advice in the British National Formulary on suicidal behaviour and
treatment with anti-depressants, viz; "the use of anti-depressants has been
linked with suicidal thoughts and behaviour; children, young adults and patients
with a history of suicidal behaviour are particularly at risk, where necessary
patients should be monitored for suicidal behaviour, self-harm, or hostility,
particularly at the beginning of treatment or if the dose is changed".

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 16" September 2014. |, 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:

— re

2. Vigilance and Intelligence Research Group, MHRA, O, 151 Buckingham Palace
Road, London, SW1W 9SZ

| 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.

A RW Forrest uu, rrcp, FrcPath
GMC Number: 1333523

Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire

23rd July 2014 (A
PS Cooper ce :

HM Assistant Coroner for South Lincolnshire

Unit 1, Gilbert Drive, Endeavour Park, Boston PE21 7TQ
Tel: 01522 553374 Fax: 01522 516717
Email: HMCoroner_Southlincolnshire@lincolnshire.gov.uk

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