Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2014

Timothy Cowen

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2014-0430, written 7 Oct 2014. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report7 Oct 2014
Reference2014-0430
DeceasedTimothy Cowen
CoronerJohn Gittins
Coroner areaNorth Wales (East & Central)
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) 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:

BCUHLB, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2PW

1 | CORONER

lam JOHN ADRIAN GITTINS, senior coroner, for the coroner area of North Wales (East
and Central)]

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 the 9th of May 2013 | commenced an investigation into the death of Timothy Peter
Cowen (DOB 6.9.61, DOD 2.5.13). The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest
on the 30" of September 2014 and I recorded a narrative conclusion in the following
terms —

On the 23rd April 2013 Timothy Peter Cowen underwent an operation at the Maelor
Hospital, Wrexham having previously undergone a substantial pre-operative assessment
which took into account his severe learning disabilities and significant mobility
limitations. The operation itself was uneventful and post operatively he was returned to
the ward for ongoing care. He received nutrition by way of a peg feed and his feeding
tegime had been established over a long period of time such that he would receive
nutrition in two daily sessions whilst upright. Post operatively this regime was changed
in accordance with recognised dietary practices and he then received a single reduced
dose of feed over a longer period whilst being propped up in bed. It is probable that
during this period as a result of his existing medical conditions he aspirated resulting in
infection. He was assessed as being fit for discharge on the morning of the 25th April
2013, although his actual discharge did not take place until that same evening at which
point his carers who knew him best were concerned that his condition may have
deteriorated rendering him unfit for discharge. Such concerns were not brought to the
attention of nursing or medical staff at that time. Over the course of the next three days
his condition continued to deteriorate resulting in his re-admission to the Maelor Hospital
on the 28th April 2014. Despite surgical investigation and ongoing support he passed
away on the 2nd May 2013 at 21.25 hours on ITU. as a result of Bilateral Extensive
Pneumonia with features of Aspiration.

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

The Circumstances of the death are outlined the above narrative conclusion.

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 although a Root Cause Analysis undertaken by the health board has
resulted in new training bundles being produced, training is not mandatory for all
staff who would require to be made aware of the new procedures and protocols.

2, That whilst there has been established a new role of Acute Liaison Nurse to
provide cohesion to the care given to patients requiring additional support, there
are only three such ALNs and there is no cover in place when they are absent
through illness or holidays.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe your
organisations 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 2"! December 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 se f my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Person — (Brother of the Deceased)

| 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] 7™ October 2014 [SIGNED BY CORONER]

CC

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