Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2015

Nancy Hughes

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2015-0221, written 12 Jun 2015. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report12 Jun 2015
Reference2015-0221
DeceasedNancy Hughes
CoronerJohn Gittins
Coroner areaNorth Wales (East & Central)
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

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:

BCUHB, 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 6th of January 2014 | commenced an investigation into the death of Nancy
Hughes (DOB 26.06.30, DOD 03.01.14). The investigation concluded at the end of the
inquest on the 11" of June 2015 and | recorded a conclusion of an accidental death. The
cause of her death being due to 1(a) Bronchopneumonia and Congestive Cardiac
Failure (b) Fractured Neck of Femur (Operated) and Arterial Atheroma (c) Fall 2.
Alzheimer's Disease

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

The Circumstances of the death are that the Deceased was a lady with Alzheimer’s
Disease and had been a patient on the Tawel Fan Ward at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in June
2013 and had been placed on Risperidone before her discharge to a local care home at
the beginning of July 2013. There was no review of this medication undertaken contrary
to accepted medical practice and she fell at the care home on the 16" of December

2013 fracturing her hip. She underwent an operation to repair the fracture the following
day but then had a further unwitnessed fall in hospital on the 28! of December whilst
sitting out. She declined thereafter and passed away on the 3% of January 2014.

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. That there was no review of her medication in accordance with accepted
medical practice and no system in place to ensure that this was undertaken.

2. That the evidence given oy Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
suggested that there was no cohesion between mental health treatment and

medical treatment such that whilst receiving medical treatment he would not
have access to mental health information relating to a patient and as a result
there may be no consideration given to the care given to vulnerable patients
requiring additional support.

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 7'* August 2015 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 sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Person | (Son of the Deceased)
lam 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] 12% June 2015 [SIGNED BY CORONER]

Responses

1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from University Health Board (PDF)
Bwrdd lechyd Prifysgol Ysbyty Gwynedd, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor,

a) Betsi Cadwaladr Gwynedd, LL57 2PW
4 University Health Board een eene eee eeeceenee
WALES

Ein cyf/Ourref: INC63731

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Eich cyf/ Your ref:
Rhif Ysbyty / Hospital Number:

Mr John Gittins . .

H.M. Coroner North Wales Rhif GIG / NHS Number:

(East and Central) ‘@: 01248 384194

County Hall Gofynnwch am / Ask for: 5a

a atay Road Ffacs / Fax: 01248 385318

Denbighshire E-bost / Email: concernsteam.bcu@wales.nhs.uk
LL15 1YN Dyddiad / Date: 24 August 2015

Dear Mr Gittins

Re: Inquest of Nancy Hughes — Regulation 28 of the Coroners Regulations 2013

Following the conclusion of the above inquest and receipt of the Regulation 28 of the
Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 Report, you expressed two concerns and
instructed the Health Board to take action to prevent further deaths. | will address each in
turn detailing the following actions:

1. There was no review of her medication in accordance with accepted medical
practice and no system in place to ensure that this was undertaken.

This is a requirement under the Mental Health (Wales) Measure; there is a requirement
for patients to have a named individual who coordinates their care, ie their Care
Coordinator.

For patients known to community teams their care coordinator will be a member of staff
from that team, this could be a Consultant, a nurse, a social work or other professional.
For patients not previously known to community teams prior to their admission, a named
nurse (care coordinator) must be allocated to that patient within the first 24 hours of the
admission ~ this is part of the patient’s 7 day admission pathway.

The care coordinator, or named nurse have a responsibility for maintaining contact with
the patient and the care team looking after the patient, if they are transferred for medical
treatment into an acute hospital setting. This would include review of medication.

BCUHB Mental Health Medicines Management Group has developed a Prescribing
Guideline for the Management of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia.
The guideline states:

“Monitoring - Following prescribing the patient should be reviewed at least weekly for in-
patients and 3 monthly in primary care. Where the antipsychotic was started by the
consultant and the GP is asked to provide ongoing review this must be clearly
documented in the letter to the GP giving clear guidance on when and how to reduce the
medication.

Cyfeiriad Gohebiaeth ar gyfer y Cadeirydd a'r Prif Weithredwr / Correspondence address for Chairman and Chief Executive:
Swyddfa'r Gweithredwyr / Executives’ Office,
Ysbyty Gwynedd, Penrhosgarnedd

Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2PW Gwefan: www.pbe.cymru.nhs.uk / Web: www.bcu.wales.nhs.uk

Review and Discontinuation - At 6 or 12 weeks: The review should be directed towards
the target symptom for which the medication was prescribed. If target symptoms have
improved and the behaviour is settled, the medication should be gradually reduced e.g. by
reducing the dose by 50% or the smallest increment possible every 2 to 4 weeks until the
medication has been stopped. If symptoms return then continue using the lowest
beneficial dose. Where no improvement is noted, consider slowly decreasing the dose
and consider an alternative antipsychotic or seek specialist advice. Continue to review
regularly while remaining on treatment.”

Guideline is embedded for information.

BCUHB Unlicensed
Antipsychotics in Den

2. That the evidence given by pF Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
suggested that there was no cohesion between mental health treatment and
medical treatment such that whilst receiving medical treatment he would not
have access to mental health information relating to a patient and as a result
there may be no consideration given to the care given to vulnerable patients
requiring additional support.

The role of the Care coordinator or named nurse incorporates key responsibilities for
ensuring effective communication between the transferring ward and receiving ward.
When patients are transferred from mental health facilities to an acute secondary care
setting, mental health medical records should follow the patient. The Mental Health
Improvement Group is also working to improve this.

| hope these actions are sufficient to reassure you, but trust should you require further
information you will not hesitate to contact me further.

Yours sincerely

nes

Director of Corporate Services on behalf of the Chief Executive

C.C.

Senior Investigation Manager
Interim Head of Nursing, Mental Health
Consultant Psychiatrics, Head of Acute Care

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