Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2017

Helen Bannister

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2017-0255, written 29 Sep 2017. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report29 Sep 2017
Reference2017-0255
DeceasedHelen Bannister
CoronerCrispin Butler
Coroner areaBuckinghamshire
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedFrimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
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.

Crispin Giles Butler
Senior Coroner for Buckinghamshire

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:
1. The Chief Executive, Fremantle Trust
2. The Head of Clinical Services, Fremantle Trust

CORONER

lam Crispin Giles Butler, Senior Coroner for Buckinghamshire

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:/Awww. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/schedule/5/paragraph/7

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

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 20th May 2016 | commenced an investigation into the death of Helen Yuk Ying BANNISTER,
born on the 8th January 1947. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 27th
September 2017. The conclusion of the inquest was as follows:

Medical cause of death:

1a. Sepsis

1b. Bronchopneumonia and peritonitis

1c. Recent surgery to insert a gastronomy feeding tube (PEG)

The narrative conclusion recorded:

On 13th May 2016, Helen Bannister underwent a procedure at Stoke Mandeville Hospital,
Buckinghamshire to insert a gastronomy feeding tube (PEG). The loosening of the PEG occurred
at some time after discharge from Stoke Mandeville Hospital and led to a leak into her abdomen
which caused the infection from which Helen Bannister died.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Helen Bannister was a resident at Lent Rise House, part of the Fremantle Trust.

Her ability to swallow and take food and drink orally had been becoming compromised and it was
agreed she would undergo a procedure as a day patient at Stoke Mandeville Hospital so that she
could be fed in future with a PEG feeding regime whilst retaining the ability to take some soft
food or liquids orally.

The narrative conclusion (above) sets out the brief facts.

After discharge from Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Helen Bannister returned to Lent Rise. At some
time during this short period she became ill and this was subsequently identified by Wexham
Park Hospital and at post mortem to be due to a leak into her abdomen leading to infection. She
had received emergency treatment, a washout and removal of the PEG at Wexham Park shortly
before her death.

Section 3 of the Record of Inquest recorded that Helen Bannister died at 0415hrs on 17th May at
Wexham Park Hospital, Berkshire as a result of sepsis.

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
itis my statutory duty to report to you.

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. —

The Coroner's Court, 29 Windsor End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 2JJ
Tel 01494 475505 | Fax 01494 673760

There was, understandably, a significant volume of documents and records from Lent Rise used
to record the various elements of the care Helen Bannister received whilst at Lent Rise.

During the course of the investigation and in evidence at the inquest, whilst there was an
indication that procedures, documentation and staff awareness has been under review since the
death of Helen Bannister, there remains a significant concern that the keeping of accurate
records in respect of all aspects of care, fluid intake, diet and nutrition and the proper recording
of hospital discharge arrangements and aftercare instructions needs to be improved.

There remains a continuing risk that the ability of care workers, nurses, doctors and hospitals to
react properly to unfolding events may be compromised by incomplete records intended to
accurately document all actions taken and the relevant timings of those actions in the care of a
resident.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you Fremantle Trust
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
24 November 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 to the following Interested Persons:
The Bannister family

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

| 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.

Dated 29 September 201,7

Signature co
Senior Coroner for Buckinghamshire

The Coroner's Court, 29 Windsor End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 2JJ
Tel 01494 475505 | Fax 01494 673760

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