Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2016

Freda Cordy

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2016-0190, written 17 May 2016. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report17 May 2016
Reference2016-0190
DeceasedFreda Cordy
CoronerHassan Shah
Coroner areaNorthamptonshire
CategoryCare Home Health related deaths · Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedNorthampton General Hospital NHS Trust
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

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

REGULATION 28 REPORT ON ACTION TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:
Templemore Care Home
Northampton General Hospital

CORONER

I am Hassan SHAH, Assistant Coroner for the coroner area of Northamptonshire.

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.

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST
Mrs Freda Cordy died on the 1®' November 2015. An investigation was opened on 11*
November and was concluded by way of an inquest on 13th April 2016. The medical
cause of death was:
la) Subdural haematoma

b) Head injury

2 Hypertension, Ischaemic heart disease, dementia.

A conclusion of accidental death was returned.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Mrs Cordy was a 93 year old frail lady with multiple diagnoses including dementia.

On the s"' August 2015 Mrs Cordy was admitted to the Emergency Assessment Unit at
Northampton General Hospital following a fall at her home address. Mrs Cordy had a
history of previous falls. The medical team identified a need for constant supervision. A
multiple disciplinary meeting including Social Services and the health partnership team
decided that Mrs Cordy should be placed into Templemore Care Home.

On 1®' October 2015 Mrs Cordy was admitted to the care home, requiring full support for
all personal care tasks. Despite the need for constant supervision that had been
identified, the care home was only able to offer 2 hourly checks. No specific falls risk
assessment was undertaken.

Mrs Cordy fell from her bed at the care home on 2"'' October 2015 suffering an extensive
subdural haematoma. After a short stay in hospital, Mrs Cordy returned to Templemore
Care Home on 7^^ October 2015 at which time a falls risk assessment was undertaken
resulting in a mattress being placed beside her bed. On 15th October 2015 Mrs Cordy
suffered a further fall from her bed at the care home suffering bleeding from her head.
Mrs Cordy was then readmitted to Northampton General Hospital where she passed
away at 7.13am on 1®* November 2015 as a result of the injuries sustained in the falls.

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 could 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)  Despite the medical team identifying a need for constant supervision, the multi
disciplinary team placed Mrs Cordy in Templemore Care Home which was only
able to provide 2 hourly checks.

2) Despite the previous history of falls and admission to hospital on 5*^ August
2015 being precisely due to a fall, no specific falls risk assessment was
undertaken either before or upon Mrs Cordy's placement in the care home.
3) Although the provision of equipment was considered on 7*'' October 2015, this
resulted only in the placing of a mattress on the floor and no other preventative
equipment was considered.

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.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by 12'^ July 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

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

Northampton General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Similarly, you are 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.

[DATE]

17^ May 2016

[SIGNED BY CORONER]

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