Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2014

Hilda Thompson

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2014-0391, written 3 Sep 2014. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report3 Sep 2014
Reference2014-0391
DeceasedHilda Thompson
CoronerMartin Fleming
Coroner areaSurrey
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

IN THE SURREY CORONER’S COURT
IN THE MATTER OF:
__________________________________________________________
The Inquest Touching the Death of Hilda Florence Thompson
A Regulation 28 Report – Action to Prevent Future Deaths
__________________________________________________________
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:
East Surrey Hospital Trust
1 CORONER
Martin Fleming Assistant Coroner for Surrey
2 CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS
I make this report under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 paragraph 7,
schedule 5 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations)
Regulations 2013.
3 INVESTIGATION and INQUEST
On 30/1/14 I opened the inquest into the death of Hilda Florence
Thompson, who at the date of her death was 101 years old. The inquest
was resumed and concluded on 27/8/14
I found that the cause of death to be:
1a – Subdural Haemorrhage
1b – Head Injury
2 ‐ Congestive Cardiac Failure
I concluded with a narrative conclusion as follows:
On 1/1/14 Hilda Florence Thompson who had a history of cardiac ill
health and asthma was admitted to A&E at East Surrey Hospital with
breathlessness, for which she was treated. Subsequently on 19/1/14 she
suffered a witnessed collapse causing her to sustain a subdural
haemorrhage to which she succumbed and died on 22/1/14.
RT4246 1
4 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH
Mrs Thompson who had limited mobility and a history of falls was
admitted to A&E at East Surrey Hospital on 1/1/14 suffering with
breathlessness, where she was treated for possible worsening heart
failure and renal function. She was moved from the acute medical unit to
Holmwood ward on 8/1/14 where she was identified as a high falls risk.
On 19/1/14 she was seen in the corridor adjacent to her room calling for
help and holding onto a chair, but had a collapse before the senior nurse
could reach her, and she struck her head on the floor. CPR was
immediately commenced and she was restored to consciousness.
Subsequently a CT scan showed that she had suffered an extensive
intracranial injury to which she succumbed and died on 22/1/14.
5 CORONER’S CONCERNS
During the inquest the following concerns arose: ‐
 Upon her admission to hospital, her management plan was not
completed and she was wrongly identified as not being a falls risk.
 There was no further review of Mrs Thompson and it was not until
11/1/14 when a full falls risk assessment was made and
preventable measures put into place.
 Poor note taking of 2/1/14 to account for this.
 This left a gap of some 10 days during which she was not properly
risk assessed for falls.
I would ask that you consider giving further consideration to the
procedures and systems to ensure that there is no further repetition.
6 ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I
believe that East Surrey Hospital Trust has the power to take such action.
7 YOUR RESPONSE
You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of its date; I
may extend that period on request.
Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be
taken, setting out the timetable for such action. Otherwise you must
explain why no action is proposed.
RT4246 2
8 COPIES

 The Chief Coroner
9 Signed: Mr Martin Fleming
DATED this 3rd September 2014
RT4246 3

Related reports

Other reports by Martin Fleming

See all →

More reports categorised “Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths”

See all →

Track Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths

See every Prevention of Future Deaths report matching Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths, and how often a new one appears.

What would an alert for this have sent me? Search the full text

Free to try — the preview shows the real matches and how many arrived in the last 12 months. Your first email alert is free.

These reports are published by the Chief Coroner's office at judiciary.uk and are © Crown copyright. The text here is reproduced from the published PDF so it can be searched. If something on this page is wrong, or you are a person named in it and want it reviewed, email drcjar@gmail.com and we will act promptly.