Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2014

Ann Wells

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2014-0401, written 11 Sep 2014. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report11 Sep 2014
Reference2014-0401
DeceasedAnn Wells
CoronerJacqueline Lake
Coroner areaNorfolk
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedNorfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation 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.

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1)

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

The Chief Executive

Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Trust Headquarters

Hellesdon Hospital

Drayton High Road

Norwich

NR6 5BE

1 | CORONER

| am JACQUELINE LAKE, senior coroner, for the coroner area of NORFOLK

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 30 December 2013 | commenced an investigation into the death of ANN MARY
WELLS, AGE 77 YEARS. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 2
September 2014. The conclusion of the inquest was medical cause of death: 1a)
Traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage b) fall with head injury; and short-form conclu
Accidental Death.

4. | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Mrs Wells was resident on Sandringham Ward, Julian Hospital, Norwich (providing care
and treatment for those with complexities in later life) and was mobile with the aid of a 3
wheeled frame. Mrs Wells was assessed as being at risk of falls. A Falls Care Plan was
in place. On 21 November 2013 Mrs Wells was found on the floor of her room. She told
staff she had crossed her room to switch on her light. There is a light switch and a call
bell on the wall beside her bed where she was sleeping. Mrs Wells was taken to
hospital, returned to Julian Hospital and then readmitted to hospital. She had another
fall. Her condition deteriorated and Mrs Wells died on 28 December 2013.

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) A light switch was positioned on the wall beside Mrs Wells’ bed (see attached
photograph). Mrs Wells was 77 years of age, frail with scoliosis, osteoarthritis and a
tremor and walked with the aid of a 3 wheeled frame. Evidence was given that this
could have been reached by Mrs Wells when in a sitting position in bed. Photographs
taken of the bedroom do not support this. Further the emergency call switch is situated
next to the light switch.

(2) No risk assessment had been carried out with regard to Mrs Wells being placed in

this particular room.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe your
organisation has 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 10 November. |, 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:

(daughter)
| 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.

Date: 11 September 2014 anecunnnarnanredh (0. Sees Msanaceer eta
Jacqueline Lake
Senior Coroner for Norfolk

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