Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2016

Sheila Slater

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2016-0127, written 31 Mar 2016. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report31 Mar 2016
Reference2016-0127
DeceasedSheila Slater
CoronerARW Forrest
Coroner areaSouth Lincolnshire
CategoryRoad (Highways Safety) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published2

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.

AR W Forrest itm, ercp, FRcPath
GMC Number: 1333523
Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire

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 Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP
Secretary of State for Transport
13

1 | CORONER

!am ARW Forrest, Senior Coroner for the Coroner's area of South Lincolnshire.

2 | CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009

3 | INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 30" March 2016. The
conclusion of the inquest was Road Traffic Collision

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH
Sheila Slater was the front seat passenger in a car driven by her husband. They were
driving north along the A16 near Crowland. On reaching the staggered junction with the

B1166, he manoeuvred into the Central reservation with the intention of turning right into

the A16. Mrs Slater died at the scene of the subsequent collision.

5 | CORONER’S CONCERNS

Unit 1, Gilbert Drive, Endeavour Park, Boston PE21 7TQ
Tel: 01522 553374 Fax: 01522 516717
Email: HMCoroner_Southlincolnshire@lincolnshire.gov.uk

On 28"" May 2015 | commenced an investigation into the death of Sheila Slater, Age 81.

The B1166 and continued into the path of an oncoming South bound vehicle travelling on

AR W Forrest ium, Frep, FRcPath
GMC Number: 1333523

Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire

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 staggered junction of the A16 with the B1166 is part of the Crowland
Bypass which was opened in 2010. As with all of the other staggered junctions
in Lincolnshire it was built to DFT specifications. Since it was opened there
have been 3 fatalities associated with this junction (2 at the junction and one on
the approach to the south bound island) and 10 injury producing collisions.
There have been fatalities at the other staggered junctions in Lincolnshire. DFT
and Highways England have been made aware of the problems associated with
these junctions both by S.28 reports and correspondence from officers of
Lincolnshire County Council. At the inquest, into Mrs Slater's death evidence
was given to the effect that this particular junction could be made safer if it were
to be replaced by a roundabout but that local funding was not available for this
purpose. Witnesses also were concerned about the safety record of other

staggered junctions in Lincolnshire.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you and/or
your organisation have the power to take such action, particularly given that these

junctions have been built to DFT specifications.

YOUR RESPONSE
You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by 27 May 2016 . 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

Unit 1, Gilbert Drive, Endeavour Park, Boston PE21 7TQ
Tel: 01522 553374 Fax: 01522 516717
Email: HMCoroner_Southlincolnshire@lincolnshire.gov.uk

AR W Forrest tum, rep, FrcPath
GMC Number: 1333523

Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire

Persons:
(
2. FY Road Safety (Accident Investigation) Manager, Lincolnshire Road
Safety Partnership.
3. Paul Cooper (Acting Senior Coroner, South Lincolnshire, wef 1 April 2016)

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.

31° March 2016

ARW Forrest ) n.

H M Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire

Unit 1, Gilbert Drive, Endeavour Park, Boston PE21 7TQ
Tel: 01522 553374 Fax: 01522 516717
Email: HMCoroner_Southlincolnshire@lincolnshire.gov.uk

Responses

2 responses 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 Department for Transport (PDF)
From the Parliamentary
Under Secretary of State

Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P4DR

Department
for Transport

Paul S Cooper
HM Acting Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire 
Unit 1, Gilbert Drive
Endeavour Park
Boston
PE21 7TQ

Thank you for your letter of 4 April enclosing Professor Forrest’s Regulation
28 Prevention Report in respect of the death of Mrs Sheila Slater.

Naturally I am sorry to hear of the circumstances of Mrs Slater’s death.  I
note the professor’s view that the design of the junction may have contributed
to the accident and that there may be similar problems at other staggered
junctions in Lincolnshire.

The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, a publication sponsored by my
department sets out the national standards for such junctions, however local
authorities are responsible for road safety on the local road network, in this
case Lincolnshire County Council.  Section 39 of The Road Traffic Act 1988
puts a 'statutory duty' on local authorities to deliver an appropriate road safety
education service and for the provision of a safe local road network.  This
includes road construction, accident investigation and analysis, traffic
calming, setting speed limits and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. It is up
to individual authorities to determine how they meet their ‘statutory duty’ and
any decision about installing a roundabout on a local road is entirely a matter
for Lincolnshire County Council.

Highways England regional and area teams monitor local and specific safety
issues and there does not appear to be a pattern of similar issues occurring
at this type of junction.  Highways England have been undertaking a scoping
study with a view to updating the design guidance covering major and minor
junctions and accesses, including this type of junction, subject to evidence
and funding.  The relevant team have been informed of these concerns.

 I expect that Mr Alan Ball, the Road Safety (Accident Investigation) Manager
who has also been copied in to the Regulation 28 Prevention Report, will be
able to advise you and Lincolnshire County Council further in this matter.
Response from The Great Western Hospital (PDF)
The Great Western Hospital 
Marlborough Road 
Swindon 
SN3 6BB 

30th December 2025  

Private and Confidential 
Grant Davies 
Area Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon 

Dear Mr Davies 

Re: Coroner’s Regulation 28 Report – Anna Marie Burns,

We write in response to the Regulation 28 Prevention of Future Deaths Report received by the Trust on 
the 19th November 2025. The report raised concerns about the circumstances which led to the tragic 
death  of  Anna  Marie  Burns.  I  would  like  to  express  my  deepest  condolences  to  Anna’s  family  and 
acknowledge the distress caused. 

Thank you for the clarity and detail of your report. We recognise the seriousness of the concerns you 
have raised and are committed to addressing them with care and careful consideration.  

The report asked the Trust to respond to the consideration that notification to relevant parties other than 
the GP be undertaken in cases where an admission due to an overdose had occurred. The report noted 
that  the  Trust  had  no  duty  of  care  to  provide  a  copy  of  the  discharge  summary  to  the  community 
prescriber (CGL – Swindon) and that this omission was neither causative nor contributory to the death 
of the patient. 

Nevertheless, the report asked that the Trust  ‘consider that notification to relevant parties (especially 
methadone prescribing authorities) regarding hospital admissions for drug overdoses takes place in the 
same manner as GPs highlighting the nature of the admission (i.e. overdose).’ 

Actions taken  

An  assessment  of  all  options  available  to  the  Trust  to  improve  communication  with  community 
prescribing  agencies  by  the  Deputy  Chief  Medical  Officer.  Considerations  included  sharing  of 
confidential patient information in a secure manner.  

The Trust wide guideline on ‘Opioid Substitution Therapy’ was ratified on the 4th September 2025.  
This guidance governs practice around in-patients admitted on or commenced on Opioid Substitution 
Therapy. Key points are: 

1.  Mandating referral to CGL (if in area) or relevant out of area provider and community pharmacy 

on commencing OST as an in-patient. 

2.  Mandating contact with CGL or appropriate provider on prescription of OST for patients admitted 

who are on an existing program. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 An automated pop-up message directing prescribers of OST/antidotes (e.g. naloxone, flumazenil) has 
been generated on EPMA (electronic prescribing platform). This will prompt the prescriber to be aware 
of  the  Opioid  Substitution  Therapy  policy  and  allow  referral/information  sharing  with  community 
prescribers and community pharmacy.  

The learning has been shared anonymously across the Trust in governance and professional forums. 
The Trust is committed to ensuring that the lessons from this case contribute to meaningful and lasting 
improvements in our services.  

Once again, I wish to extend my sincerest condolences to Anna’s family and provide some assurance 
that we are committed to learning from this sad experience.  

Yours sincerely, 

Managing Director  

Copy to: Chief Coroner, Care Quality Commission

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