Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2016

Monica Lewis-Hinds

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2016-0133, written 6 Apr 2016. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report6 Apr 2016
Reference2016-0133
DeceasedMonica Lewis-Hinds
CoronerSelena Lynch
Coroner areaSouth London
CategoryCommunity health care and emergency services 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.

In the South London Coroner’s Court

Inquest touching the death of Monica Elaine Lewis-Hinds

Report to Prevent Future Deaths (Coroners (Investigations) Regulation 28)

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

Dr Fionna Moore MBE, Chief Executive, London Ambulance Service

CORONER

| am Selena Lynch senior coroner for the coroner area of South London

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

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 26" January 2015 | commenced an investigation into the death of Monica Elaine
Lewis-Hinds. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 11" February
2016. The medical cause of death was asphyxia due to epileptic seizure. The
conclusion of the inquest was a narrative conclusion: that Ms Lewis Hinds suffered a
seizure at home some time after midnight on 16" January 2015. An ambulance was
requested at 0028 whilst she was in a distressed post-ictal phase. She suffered a
further seizure some time after 0128 which led to asphyxia, cardiac arrest, and death.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Ms Lewis-Hinds suffered from poorly controlled epilepsy. An ambulance was requested
to attend her home just after midnight on 16" January 2015 as she had suffered a
seizure. The seizure was atypical, something which raises the priority of the call to Red
2 (response time of 8 minutes). The type of seizure was not ascertained by the call
handler, resulting in a delayed response. It was not possible to ascertain whether the
delay caused or contributed to the fatal outcome.

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. —

The protocol used by the London Ambulance Service to triage calls includes a question
about the type of fit, but the question is not posed by the call handler to the caller, and

the section is only completed if the caller offers the information. In view of the potential
consequences for the patient, this part of the protocol may require amendment, so that
the question is put pre-emptively in all cases.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you 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 6th June 2016. |, 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 family of the Ms Lewis-
Hinds
| 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.

6" April 2016 Signed: tla Mpc

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