Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2015

Jean Gillespie

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2015-0419, written 2 Nov 2015. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report2 Nov 2015
Reference2015-0419
DeceasedJean Gillespie
CoronerAlan Wilson
Coroner areaBlackpool and Fylde
CategoryCare Home Health related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

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

REGULATION 28:  REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1) 

NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest. 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 
The Alexandra Court Care Home 
The Manager/proprietor                                  
110 Victoria Road East                                  
Cleveleys                                               
Lancashire                                              
FY5 3SZ           

1 

CORONER 

I am Alan Wilson, Senior Coroner, for the area of Blackpool & Fylde 

2 

CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

I 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 15 May 2015 I opened an investigation into the death of Jean Dorothy Gillespie aged 
89 years. The inquest concluded on 28TH October 2015.  

The conclusion of the Coroner as to the death was a Narrative verdict: 
Jean Gillespie died of bronchopneumonia, the onset of which was contributed to by the 
effects of not receiving prescribed medication she required to control the potentially life 
threatening condition Myasthenia gravis. 

The medical cause of death was: 

1 (a) Acute cardiorespiratory failure 
1 (b) Bronchopneumonia 
1 (c) Myasthenia gravis 

2 Senile Multi Organ Involution.                       .                 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Residing at a care home for respite care since 9th April 2015 the last of a supply of Jean 
Gillespie’s prescribed medication Pyridostigmine was administered to her on the 
morning of 25th April 2015. At approximately 5pm on 26 April 2015 she was observed to 
be suffering from symptoms attributable to the condition Myasthenia gravis. She was 
taken to hospital but her condition deteriorated and she passed away at 22.26 hours on 
8 May 2015.  

1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                       
 
 
 
 
 
                
                       
 
 
 
 
 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.  The inquest heard that a senior member of the care staff with responsibility for 

administering medication to residents and for re-ordering supplies of medication 
did not know that the deceased suffered from myasthenia gravis, nor was this a 
condition she had heard of before. 

3. 

2.  When supplies of the necessary medication were about to expire she did seek 
to re-order supplies. When they did not materialise she did not appreciate the 
urgency the situation demanded until symptoms became evident. 
I am concerned that irrespective of whether this is a care home rather than a 
nursing home that staff with responsibility for administering and / or re-ordering 
supplies of medication for potentially life threatening conditions are aware of the 
conditions and what the medication is prescribed for so that staff can then react 
accordingly. 

4.  Further, consideration of the care home records made no reference to the name 
of the condition, the symptoms that can materialise, nor what the prescribed 
medication was for. A member of staff previously unfamiliar with this patient who 
may have responsibility for administering her medication would not have been 
able to familiarise themselves with the necessary knowledge from a perusal of 
the care home records and I am concerned there is a risk of future deaths were 
this situation to be replicated.  

At the conclusion of the inquest, I indicated to the Properly Interested Persons that I 
proposed to write to the Trust by way of a report in accordance with the provisions of 
paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. 

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you 
[AND/OR your organisation] have the power to take such action.  

7 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, 
namely by 28th December 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. 

8 

COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested 
Persons  

The family of Jean Dorothy Gillespie 

The Coroner’s Society 

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

2

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 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. 

9 

A.A.Wilson 

Alan Wilson 
Senior Coroner for Blackpool & The Fylde 
Dated: 2ND November 2015 

3

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 Mmcg (PDF)
CG

Maria Mallaband Care Group

Westcourt, Gelderd Road, Leeds, LS12 6DB
email: admin@mmcg.co.uk

Tel: 0113 238 2690
Fax: 0113 238 2691

Mr A Wilson

Senior Coroner

Blackpool and Fylde Coroner’s Office
Municipal Buildings

Corporation Street

Blackpool

FY1 1GB

11" December 2015

Re: Jean Gillispie — Regulation 28 Report
Dear Mr Wilson

| write in response to the Regulation 28 report received following the inquest for Jean Dorothy
Gillispie. | can confirm the following actions have been taken to help prevent future deaths.

The Senior Care Assistants in the home have received further medication training & Competency
assessments, Supervisions have been completed highlighting the importance of ordering, receiving
and dispensing medications, following the inquest a further supervision has been completed to
reinforce the polices and procedures of medication management.

The manager took sole responsibility for managing the medication at the time of the incident to
ensure no residents ran out of their medication. The Home Manager completes medication audits to
ensure any issues identified can be dealt with swiftly.

There are tools available to assist staff with concerns or medications/conditions they are not familiar
with i.e. BNF book, external professionals and our internal Quality team. Each member of staff is
accountable & responsible for their own actions and how they implement/use the tools & resources

available to them.

Registered Office:

Maria Mallaband Care Group Lid

Wesicourt, Gelderd Road, Leeds LS12 6DB ex

Tel: 0113 238 2690 Fax: 0113 238 2691

email: admin@mmeg,co.uk ¢ \ INVESTORS
Nv, Vv I

www.maria-mallaband.co.uk We N PEOPLE

Company Number: 03135910

Alexandra Court has a new manager who has introduced handover sheets and medication count
down sheets; this will assist the staff to recognise any issues or shortfalls with medication stock

control and using the handover sheets to document actions taken or needed will improve
communication.

Yours Sincerely

1 |

Le

Tracey Yates

Maria Mallaband Care Group

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