Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2014

Jack Dulson

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2014-0365, written 6 Aug 2014. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report6 Aug 2014
Reference2014-0365
DeceasedJack Dulson
CoronerLouise Hunt
Coroner areaBirmingham & Solihull
CategoryCommunity health care and emergency services 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 (1)

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:
1. BBB the surgery, chesterton, Newcastle, Staffs, STS 7EB

1 | CORONER

| am Louise Hunt, Senior Coroner, for the Coroner area of Birmingham and Solihull.

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 12/05/14 | commenced an investigation into the death of Jack Dulson aged 9 years.
The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 05/08/14. The conclusion of the
inquest was that Jack died from natural causes due to pericarditis.

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Jack had been a previously fit and well young boy. He became lethargic and developed
knee pain and a temperature resulting in his parents taking him to City Hospital Stoke on
Trent on 07/03/14. He was diagnosed with a viral illness and discharged home. He
appeared to make a recovery until the 25/03/14. At that time he was lethargic and
couldn't swallow. He was seen > is GP. A blood test was arranged. This was
undertaken on 27/03/14 at City Hospital. The results were available at the GP surgery
on 27/03/14. They confirmed a CRP of 169 (very high and indicating infection) and
anaemia. The results were not reviewed by |Eunti! the family requested an
appointment which took place at 17.50 on 28/03/14. At that time Jack was seriously ill
and was admitted as an emergency to City Hospital where he was diagnosed with
pericarditis causing a pericardial effusion. He was transferred to Birmingham Children’s
Hospital on 29/03/14. He had insertion of a pericardial drain on 31/03/14. He appeared
to be making progress until he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on 03/04/14. He could
not be resuscitated and passed away at 22.45.

The evidence at the inquest confirmed that earlier treatment and diagnosis would not
have made a difference to the outcome.

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) The GP practice had no system in place to review abnormal blood test results
when they were received and to then review the patient and provide treatment.

(2) The abnormal blood tests were only reviewed when the family arranged and
insisted on an appointment — this was over 24 hours after the tests results were
available.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you 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 1* October 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 :-

::: to the LOCAL SAFEGUARDING BOARD (as the deceased was
under .

| 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.

| 6" August 2014

Aoetlid [SIGNED BY CORONER]

$$

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