Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2014

Vijay Sonagara

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2014-0364, written 7 Aug 2014. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report7 Aug 2014
Reference2014-0364
DeceasedVijay Sonagara
CoronerPhilip Barlow
Coroner areaLondon Inner (South)
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedBarts Health NHS Trust
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.

ANNEX A

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:
1. Peter Morris, Chief Executive, Barts Health NHS Trust, c/o Legal

Department, 3rd floor, 9 Prescot St, London E1 8PR
4 | CORONER

lam Philip Barlow, assistant coroner, for the coroner area of Inner London South.

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.

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 27 February 2013 | commenced an investigation into the death of Vijay Sonagara,
age 54. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 6 August 2014. The
conclusion of the inquest was misadventure. The medical cause of death was 1a multi-
organ failure; 1b alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver complicated by surgery for inguinal hernia

repair (operated 8.2.13).
4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH
Mr Sonagara had alcoholic liver disease and on 8 February 2013 underwent routi
surgery for repair of inguinal hernia at Whipps Cross Hospital under the care of
ee On 11 February 2013 Mr Sonagara’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He was
found to have decompensated alcoholic liver disease requiring intensive care treatment.

He was transferred to St Thomas’ Hospital where he died on 22 February 2043.
5 | CORONER’S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed maiters 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. —

The evidence at the inquest was that Mr Sonagara was being seen by the
gastroenterologists at Whipps Cross Hospital at the same time as he was being
considered for surgery by However, the gastroenterology treatment was
recorded in a different set of hospital records using a different hospital number (but
under the same name, same address, and same NHS number). In addition the evidence
showed that there was a temporary file containing further medical records. These sets of
medical records were not amalgamated or cross referenced. [EEE and his team
were unaware of the other medical records and the information contained within them.
As a result they were unaware that Mr Sonagara was being actively investigated at the
same hospital. The information within the second and third set of records was potentially
relevant to the decision making, although my final conclusion was that it would not have

altered the decision to operate in this case.
My concerns are therefore as follows:

(1) Mr Sonagara had two different sets of medical records under two different hospital
numbers that were not amalgamated or cross referenced.

(2) In addition a third temporary file of medical records was not incorporated into the
permanent file.

(3) Potentially relevant information contained in the second and third set of records was
not available to Mr Sonagara’s treating doctors.

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 3 October 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 Mr Sonagara’s daughter as
an Interested Person.

| 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.

7 August 2014 Philip Barlow “TS Coroner aI

L

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