Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2015

Lana-Liza Chervonenko

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2015-0022, written 28 Jan 2015. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report28 Jan 2015
Reference2015-0022
DeceasedLana-Liza Chervonenko
CoronerNadia Persaud
Coroner areaEast London
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

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

1. Matthew Hopkins, Chief Executive, Queen’s Hospital, Rom Valley Way,
Romford, Essex, RM7 0AG

CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

CORONER

| am Nadia Persaud, senior coroner for the coroner area of Eastern District of Greater
London

_—__________

| 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.
http://www. legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1629/part/7/mad

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On the 12" March 2014 | commenced an investigation into the death of lana-Liza
Chervonenko. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on the 20" January
2015. The conclusion of the inquest was a narrative conclusion;

reed attended Queen's Hospital Maternity Unit at 41 weeks gestation
with a history of reduced fetal movement. A CTG from 22.47 was noted to be
pathological and a decision was made at 00.10 that an emergency caesarean section
should be performed. There was a delay in performing the caesarean section due to the
level of activity on the labour ward, poor communication and poor clinical decision
making. lana-Liza was born at 02.30 with no heart rate or Spontaneous respiration. She
died from hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy caused by intra-partum asphyxia. Her
death was contributed to by neglect.

al

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH |

attended Queens Hospital at 22.38 with a history of reduced fetal
movements. A CTG was commenced at 22.47 and the triage midwife had concerns
about the trace. At 23.05 she had difficulties in obtaining a medical review due to the
high levels of activity on the maternity unit.

At 23.30 the triage midwife took the CTG trace into theatre to show the consultant who
was performing another surgical procedure. The consultant confirmed that the trace was
pathological and the patient should be moved to the labour ward and prepared for
theatre.

ae «:: transferred to the labour ward and prepared for theatre by the
midwitery staff. A doctor attended to review her at 00.10 and made a decision for an
emergency caesarean section. The doctor documented a grade 2 caesarean section but

has given evidence to confirm that this was erroneous and should have been grade 1,
(requiring delivery by 00.40).

The consultant had anticipated that BB oui be taken into theatre when he

had finished the case that he had been dealing with. The theatre is likely to have

become free at 00.22 but this fact was not communicated to, treating |
team.

The team became aware that the theatre was free at around 00.40 when the labour
ward co-ordinator noticed this on her rounds. During the process of transfer to theatre a
discussion took place about NN and another case which required emergency
intervention. A decision was made to prioritise the other patient. | found that the doctors
had failed to take into account all of the relevant information, to allow them to make a
fully informed decision. It was considered that it would not be necessary to open a
second theatre, as the other case was likely to be completed within around 30 minutes.
It was considered that this would be the time that it would take to Open a second theatre.

The other case did not finish until 01.45. | was not taken to theatre until
02.06.

lana-Liza was delivered at 02.30, following around a period of around 27 minutes of
bradycardia. She was delivered in a very poor condition with no heart rate or
spontaneous respiration.

lana-Liza died at twenty-four hours of age from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy due to
intra partum asphyxia.

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 Labour Ward was very busy on the night of 7/8"" March 2014. The levels of
activity on the ward resulted in the following:

e Adelay in obtaining a medical review to the concerning CTG trace.

* A period of 40 minutes before a medical review, following the consultant noting
a pathological CTG trace.

Incorrect documentation in relation to the grading of the caesarean section.

e Due to the activity on the Labour Ward the obstetric registrar was not able to
fully record his assessments of the patient.

e The obstetric registrar confirmed that he did not speak to the anaesthetist about
the type of anaesthesia to be used due to him being busy with other patients.

yas a... concerning risk factors of reduced foetal movements and a
pathological CTG trace. There were no reassuring reasons for the changes in
fetal heart rate. A pathological CTG in an antenatal patient with a history of
reduced foetal movements should result in a Grade 1 caesarean section. She
should have been delivered by 00.40.

The theatre is likely to have been free by 00.22. There was however no
communication with the treating team of the availability of theatre and this was
only noted by the labour ward coordinator whilst conducting her general rounds
at around 00.40.

Had been taken to theatre at 00.22, the consultant has confirmed
that lana-Liza would have been delivered by 00.40.

| am concerned about the level of medical cover on the labour ward. The
consultant has confirmed that Queens Hospital Maternity Unit is a very busy unit.
The level of activity on the 7/8" March 2014 did result in care being provided
which contributed to the death of lana-Liza. The doctors were under severe

pressure due to the amount of work and all of the doctors who gave evidence
confirmed that further medical support on the maternity unit would improve the
care provided to patients. A safe system of care would include the clear and
accurate documentation of clinical reviews and clinical decisions: fully informed
and thorough discussions with colleagues about prioritisation: fully informed
discussions with anaesthetists in relation to the type of anaesthesia required
and clear communication between the medical team and midwifery team. The
limited number of doctors available on the ward at the time resulted in deficient
communication and documentation.

| also heard that there is currently no system in place for theatre staff to
proactively notify the treating team when the theatre becomes available. | did
hear that it would be possible for the Standard Operating Protocol for theatre to
be amended to require the Maternity Care Assistant to notify the treating team as
soon as theatre becomes free (where a patient is awaiting theatre). No steps had
however been taken to address this at the time of the Inquest.

a]

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you and your
organisation have the power to take such action.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response.

9

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by the 25 March 20165. |, 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.

| have sent_a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested

|_am_also forwarding a copy of the report to the Care Quality Commission and ill
Director of Public Health).

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] [SIGNED BY CORONER]

QE.j. iS

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