Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2015

Thomas Black

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2015-0467, written 24 Nov 2015. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report24 Nov 2015
Reference2015-0467
DeceasedThomas Black
CoronerWendy James
Coroner areaGwent
CategoryState Custody 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)

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

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

The Governor,
HMP Usk,

47 Maryport Street,
Usk.

NP15 1XP

1 | CORONER

| am Wendy Ann James, Assistant Coroner, for the coroner area of Gwent

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 2™ March 2015 | commenced an investigation into the death of Thomas Byron Black
(d.o.b. 28-02-86). The investigation concluded on 19" November 2015. The conclusion
of the inquest was Natural Causes. The medical cause of death being:-

1. (a) Pulmonary thrombo-embolus

1. (b) Deep Vein thrombosis in a man with Factor V Leiden Mutation [heterozygous]

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

On 4" December 2014 Mr. Black was transferred to HMP Usk. On Saturday 21°
February 2015 Mr. Black collapsed. Officers took him to his cell and arranged a health
care appointment for Monday morning, as health care staff are not on duty at the
weekend. They did not seek medical advice. On Sunday 22" February 2015 Mr.
Black's cellmate reported he still felt unwell and had a tight chest. Officers monitored
Mr. Black but did not seek medical advice. On the morning of Monday 23% February
2015, a nurse examined Mr. Black and found no concerns, but arranged to carry out an
electrocardiogram test later that afternoon. Just after 1.30 p.m. Mr. Black collapsed. He
was conscious at first, but his condition deteriorated and he was conveyed to the Royal
Gwent Hospital and he was pronounced dead at 3.21 p.m.

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. —

Prison staff did not seek medical advice when it was apparent that Mr. Black was unwell.

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.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by 18-01-16 . 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
Persons:

| 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] [SIGNED BY CORONER]

24-11-15 WAJame® .

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