Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2016

Charles Woodward

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2016-0449, written 16 Dec 2016. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report16 Dec 2016
Reference2016-0449
DeceasedCharles Woodward
CoronerNicholas Rheinberg
Coroner areaCheshire
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedMid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation 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 TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1) 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1. 
2. 
3.  Chief Executive, Mid Cheshire NHS Trust 

1 

CORONER 

I am Nicholas Leslie Rheinberg, senior coroner for the coroner area of Cheshire. 

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 3rd May 2016 an investigation was commenced into the death of Charles Ray 
Woodward aged 67. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 15th 
December 2016. The conclusion of the inquest was that the deceased who had died as 
a result of peritonitis caused by virtue of a leaking anastomosis following surgery for 
cancer of the sigmoid colon had died by misadventure. 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

On 20th April 2016 an operation was performed at Leighton Hospital, Crewe to remove a 
tumour involving the sigmoid colon. After an apparently uneventful period of recovery the 
deceased was discharged home from hospital on 22nd April 2016. At home the 
deceased’s health declined. He ate and drank little, he became oliguric, his mobility 
decreased and it is likely that he had begun to suffer from the peritonitis which 
subsequently led to his death. Further it is likely that had the deceased remained in 
hospital the onset of peritonitis would have been recognised and an operation performed 
which might have saved him. 

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.  –  

There was inadequate communication and liaison between the hospital on the one hand 
and on the other hand the deceased’s GP practice and district nurses in the community 
who, following the deceased’s discharge from hospital, would be responsible for the 
deceased’s ongoing care. Further, monitoring of the deceased’s condition from Leighton 
Hospital was insufficiently robust and relied upon oral contact rather than ensuring the 
physical presence of a medical attendant, be that attendant hospital or community 
based. The evidence suggested that there was miscommunication between the hospital 
and the deceased’s family with the result that the deceased’s worrying decline in health 
was not appreciated by the hospital. 

1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe that you 
being respectively the Cancer Governance Board and the Chief Executive of Leighton 
Hospital 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 13th February 2017. 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 namely the family of the deceased and the CQC. 
I 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. 

9 

16th December 2016                                              

Nicholas Leslie Rheinberg 
Senior Coroner 

2

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