Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2017

Beryl Foster

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2017-0095, written 29 Mar 2017. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report29 Mar 2017
Reference2017-0095
DeceasedBeryl Foster
CoronerDavid Horsley
Coroner areaPortsmouth and South East Hampshire
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedPortsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

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ANNEX A

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:
1. MrT Powell, Chief Executive, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
[1 | CORONER
| am David Clark Horsley, H.M. Senior Coroner for the Coroner area of Portsmouth and
South East Hampshire.
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 7 June 2016 | commenced an investigation into the death of Beryl Yvonne Foster,
aged 76. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 14 March 2017. The
conclusion of the inquest was a Narrative Conclusion (which is attached hereto). The
medical cause of Mrs Foster's death was:
1(a). Respiratory Failure
1(b). Pneumonia
1(c). Oesophageal Perforation
2. Ischaemic Heart Disease
4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH
Mrs Foster underwent an endoscopic ultrasound examination at Queen Alexandra
Hospital on 8 December 2015. She became unwell after discharge from the hospital and
was re-admitted on 11 December 2015 and subsequently died there on 2 January 2016.
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. —
Mrs Foster's discharge summary was handed to her on 8 December 2015 and was
subsequently posted to her GP practice. This meant that when she became unwell the
following day and contacted the practice, it was unaware of the endoscopy the previous
day. | was told that endoscopy discharge summaries are posted to GP practices by
QAH, rather than emailed like all other discharge summaries. | am concerned this
practice raises a risk that future deaths will occur in such circumstances and | would ask
the NHS Trust to consider emailing all discharge summaries to GP practices in the
future.
6 | ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe your
organisation has 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 24 May 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.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Persons Access Legal - solicitors acting for Mrs Foster's family. | have also sent it to The
Care Quality Commission who may find it useful or of interest.

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.

29 March 2017 David Clark Horsley

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