Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2017

Errol Mann

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2017-0128, written 20 Apr 2017. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report20 Apr 2017
Reference2017-0128
DeceasedErrol Mann
CoronerNadia Persaud
Coroner areaEast London
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) 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.

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:
Alwen Williams, Chief Executive, Barts Health, Royal London Hospital,
Whitechapel Road, Whitechapel, London, E1 1BB

1 | CORONER

| am Nadia Persaud, Senior Coroner for the area of Eastern Area of Greater London

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

3 | INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On the 3" August 2016, | commenced an investigation into the death of Mr Errol Mann.
The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest on the 19" April 2017, the
conclusion of the Inquest was a narrative conclusion:

Mr Errol Mann was admitted to hospital on the a August 2015. During the course of
his admission he was at high risk of developing a pulmonary embolism. He exhibited
clinical signs of multiple small emboli. Despite this, arrangements were not put in place
to investigate/exclude a pulmonary embolism or steps taken to ensure that consistent
VTE prophylaxis was provided. Mr Mann died on the 7" August 2015 from a pulmonary
embolism. The failure to investigate this condition and to ensure consistent prophylactic
treatment, contributed to his death.

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Mr Mann was admitted to Newham University Hospital in the evening of 2" August
2015. The differential diagnosis upon presentation included hyperosmolar non-ketotic
hyperglycaemia (HHS); sepsis of unknown cause and pulmonary embolism. The A & E
team provided a treatment dose of Clexane and recommended, amongst other things, a
D Dimer and CTPA. Mr Mann was admitted to ITU in the early hours of the 3 August
2015. Steps were not taken to progress the investigation for aPE. An assumption was
made in ITU that a PE had been excluded by CTPA, but no checks were made to
confirm this. Mr Mann did improve clinically from the HHS perspective, but he had
ongoing respiratory requirements. An expert witness gave evidence at the Inquest that
the clinical presentation in ICU on the 5" and 6" August 2015 was indicative of Mr Mann
suffering multiple small pulmonary emboli. Mr Mann was at a high risk of developing a
PE. Mr Mann was discharged from ITU on the 6"" August 2015. His respiratory
condition deteriorated significantly shortly after discharge from ITU. The medical team
on the ward diagnosed a pulmonary embolism and a treatment dose of Tinzaparin was
administered. In the early hours of the 7 August 2015 Mr Mann suffered a fatal
pulmonary embolism and died at Newham University Hospital at 05:30 am. A post-
mortem examination confirmed a cause of death of 1a pulmonary embolism 1b right
DVT.

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. —

Evidence was given by a Consultant i in ITU that the ICU department was extremely short
staffed during the week of 3 — 6'" August 2015. The Consultant confirmed that there
was no administrative support and there were several gaps in the rota for Clinical
Fellows. She confirmed that because of staffing issues, the time of the Consultant on
duty was not fully devoted to clinical care. She gave evidence that the lack of staff
directly affected the care provided to Mr Mann. She confirmed that the concerns were
escalated to the Medical Director at that time but that no additional manpower was
provided. When asked whether staffing on ICU was still a problem and whether this still
affects patient safety, the Consultant confirmed that staffing issues vary depending upon
the time of year. She stated however that “we have never been fully recruited on the
clinical fellow front. There are still | gaps in the rota’.

She stated that even as of the 31° March 2017 gaps continue and as /ong as there are
gaps on the rota, patient care is affected.

| would request that the Trust consider the evidence of the ICU consultant and take any
steps deemed necessary to ensure staffing resilience in ITU. | would request that the
Trust particularly consider staffing during the summer, August in particular, when
absence due to annual leave is likely to be high.

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 the 15" June 2017. |, 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 NB sammmemeraam (sister), |
am also forwarding a copy of the report to the Care Quality Commission and to Mr
Matthew Cole (Director of Public Health).

| 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.

[DATE] 20- G- 1) [SIGNED BY CORONER] ns Lo

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