Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2017

Isabel Gentry

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2017-0111, written 6 Apr 2017. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report6 Apr 2017
Reference2017-0111
DeceasedIsabel Gentry
CoronerMaria Voison
Coroner areaAvon
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths · Child Death (from 2015)
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.

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 !S BEING SENT TO:

1.
Chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
Oxford University
Children’s Unit
John Ratcliffe Hospital
Headley Way
Headington
Oxford
OX3 9DU

Chief Medical Officer
Department of Health
Room 114

Richmond House

79 Whitehall

London

SW1A 2NS

CORONER

1am Maria Eileen Voisin, Senior Coroner, for the area of Avon.

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.

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 24" May 2016 | commenced an investigation into the death of Isabel Lily GENTRY,
Aged 16.

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 47" March 2017.

The conclusion of the inquest was that the medical cause of death should be recorded
as

la) Group B meningococcal meningitis

Box 3 read as follows:

Isabel Gentry had meningitis, she became ill on 17th May 2016 her symptoms
included: headache all day but worse in the evening; neck pain; a fever, shivering,
vomiting, muscular pain, dizziness and she had fainted once, she had loose
stools for 3 days. The paramedic that examined her considered that she may have
sepsis as part of his differential diagnosis. Isabel was taken to hospital. The
doctor did not take an accurate history or a full history and did not reach a
differential diagnosis which should have included sepsis and SIRS. The
observations and the bloods taken were not normal. The diagnosis of viral
gastroenteritis was not accurate. The vital signs were not considered in the light
of the fluid and medication she had received. The previous case of meningitis was
not acted upon. There was no senior review. Isabel was discharged on the
morning of 18th May. During that day she became more unwell Isabel was taken
back to the Bristol Royal Infirmary that evening was treated but her condition
deteriorated and she died on 20th May 2046.

The conclusion as to the death based on all the evidence was recorded as

Natural causes contributed to by neglect

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH
The circumstances were recorded in Box 3 which are reflected above.

In summary Isabel Gentry became ill with meningitis on 17" May 2016. She attended
the Bristol Royal Infirmary and was discharged on 18" May with a diagnosis of viral
gastroenteritis.

As the day progressed she became more unwell and was readmitted to the Bristol Royal
Infirmary on 18 " May that evening. The diagnosis of meningitis was confirmed and sadly
despite appropriate care and treatment her condition deteriorated and she died on 20"
May 2016.

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. —

1. Evidence was provided during the inquest that if Isabel had received the
meningitis B vaccination that her death would have been prevented. There is
therefore an ongoing risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken in
relation to extending the vaccination program to include the teenage group
which is at increased risk.

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 2"4 June 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 ie to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Persons — family, and South Western Ambulance Service Trust. | have also
sent it to Public Health England who may find it useful or of interest and to the CQC.

1am 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.

06 April 2017 M. E. i ae

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