Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2017

Philip Powell

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2017-0352, written 30 Nov 2017. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report30 Nov 2017
Reference2017-0352
DeceasedPhilip Powell
CoronerZafar Siddique
Coroner areaBlack Country
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedThe Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. 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: 

1.  Chief Executive, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust. 

1 

CORONER 

I am Zafar Siddique, Senior Coroner, for the coroner area of the Black Country. 

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 the 20 August 2017, I commenced an investigation into the death of Mr Philip John 
Powell. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 30 November 2017.  

The conclusion of the inquest was a short narrative conclusion of:  Mr Powell Died after 
developing sepsis when a pressure sore became infected and deteriorated rapidly from 
a grade 3 to grade 4. 

The cause of death was:   

1a   Sepsis and Bronchopneumonia 
1b   Infected Sacral Pressure Sore and Buttock Abscess 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

i)  Mr  Powell  was  an  83  year  old  gentleman  who  had  a  medical  history 
including Parkinson's disease, dementia and history of previous strokes.  

ii)  He lived at home and was cared for by his family with support of Community 

nurses.   

iii)  In July 2017 he started to develop an uncategorised stage 3 pressure ulcer 

and moisture lesion.   

iv)  He  was  reviewed  by  a  tissue  viability  nurse  on  the  18  July  2017  and 
Debrisoft which is anti-bacterial and used in the treatment of wounds wasn’t 
available at the time and the nurse placed a request for more supplies. 

v)  No Debrisoft was in fact ordered.  The pressure ulcer was then cleaned and 

dressed and managed with Flaminal Hydro and allevyn instead. 

vi)  By  the  4  August  there  were  now  clear  signs  of  infection  and  the  ulcer  had 

become malodorous and inflamed.  

vii)  By  the  7  August  the  ulcer  had  deteriorated  rapidly  and  he  was  admitted  to 
Russells  Hall  Hospital  where  a  7cm  cavity  was  identified  and  suspected 

1 

[IL1: PROTECT] 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 sepsis.  

viii) Despite  further  treatment  his  condition  continued  to  decline  and  sadly  he 
died on the 16 August 2017 after developing sepsis and bronchopneumonia 
due to the infected pressure sore. 

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.  –  

1.  Evidence  emerged  during  the  inquest  that  there  were  delays  in  ordering 

Debrisoft which would have helped in managing the wound.  

2. 

In  addition,  there  was  evidence  of  poor  communication  and  poor  systems  in 
place  in  ordering  Debrisoft  with  confusion  about  the  process  and  overall 
responsibility. 

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have the 
power to take such action 

Although  an  internal  investigation  was  completed,  it  did  not  address  the  issue  of  the 
delays  in  ordering  Debrisoft  and  you may  consider  it is  important  to revisit  this  area  to 
look at the systems in place. 

7 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, 
namely by 29 January 2018. 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; Family. 

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 

 30 November2017                                                   

Mr Zafar Siddique
Senior Coroner 
Black Country Area 

2 

[IL1: PROTECT]

Responses

1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from Dudley Group NHS Trust (PDF)
Ref: Reg28/PJP/Jan18                                                                                                      Russells Hall Hospital 

                                                                                                      DUDLEY 
                                                                                                               West Midlands 
                                                                                                       DY1 2HQ 

                                                                                                                  26 January 2018 

Private and Confidential 

Mr Zafar Siddique, 
Senior Coroner  
Black Country Coroner’s Court 
Jack Judge House 
Halesowen Street 
Oldbury 
West Midlands 
B69 2AJ 

Dear Mr Siddique, 

Re: Response to Regulations 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths – The late Mr Philip John Powell 

I am in receipt of your Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths following the inquest and your ruling on 30 
November 2017, in respect of the late Philip John Powell. I should extend again the condolences of the Trust to Mr 
Powell’s family. 

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows  –  

1.  Evidence  emerged  during  the  inquest  that  there  were  delays  in  ordering  Debrisoft  which  may  have  helped  in 

managing the wound.  

In addition, there was evidence of poor communication and poor systems in place in ordering Debrisoft with confusion 
about the process and overall responsibility. 

The important issues you raise have been taken very seriously within the Trust and I enclose an action plan which 
confirms: a) the actions taken by the Trust in response to your concerns: b) the target dates for completion of those 
actions; and c) the officers with responsibility for progress of the actions.  

I trust the information provides assurances to you that the Trust has taken appropriate action to mitigate any further 
patient safety issues with regards to timely procurement and availability of this product in future. 

Yours faithfully, 

Diane Wake 
Chief Executive 

Chairman:  Jenni Ord                                                                                                   Chief Executive:  Diane Wake 

Chief Executive:  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Action not started/overdue 
Action underway 
Action completed 

ACTION PLAN 

Action Theme 

Action 
number 

By 
whom 

Current progress 

Status 

Due Date 

Assurances 

Communication 

1 

Communication 

2 

Communication 

3 

Delays ordering 
Debrisoft 

4 

(Deputy 
Matron) 

Meeting held 4 December 
2017 with community 
nursing senior leads -  to 
discuss the Coroner’s 
Regulation 28 PFD report 

Meeting held 20 December 
2017 with Chief Nurse to 
discuss Regulation 28 PFD 
report 

(Deputy 
Matron) 

Debrisoft management 
pathway devised and 
populated  

In order to ensure there are 
no delays Debrisoft is now 
a stock item and ordered 
through procurement. 
community nurses have 
stock items of Debrisoft (1 
box of 5) in nursing bags at 
all times 

Meeting held on 21 
January  2017 with the 
CCG to discuss delays in 
community nursing 
prescription requests     

Communication 

5 

(Matron) 

Communication 

6 

Meeting held with the 
Debrisoft Rep to discuss 
the issues when raising a 
prescription through the 
GP surgery.  

Matron) 

04/12/2017 

20/12/2017 

20/01/2018 

31/12/2017 

21/01/2018 

16/01/2018 

Minutes of the 
meeting can be 
retrieved from the 
0 Drive on the 
shared drive 

Completion of 
Action Plan and 
Debrisoft Pathway 

Minutes of the 
meeting – 
Debrisoft Pathway 
attached 

The 5 localities 
have placed 
orders with 
procurement. 

Meeting held 
22/01/18. CCG 
gave assurance 
that they would 
discuss this 
matter with lead 
GPs 

Debrisoft Rep is 
liaising with GP 
surgeries and 
local pharmacies 
in order to 
cascade 
educational 
advice regarding 
product and FP10. 
Trust has follow 
up meeting with 
rep 06/02/18 to 
ensure revised 
processes are 
working 

Chairman:  Jenni Ord                                                                                                   Chief Executive:  Diane Wake 

Chief Executive:  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Community Nursing process for the distribution of Debrisoft 

Full Holistic Assessment - Debrisoft indicated 
Refer to Debrisoft Lolly and Debrisoft user guide 
August 2017 

Debrisoft is now stock item  
Equip all District nurse bags with a 1 box of 5  
This is now mandatory

Nurse Prescriber  
Use stock item and complete 
prescription to replenish patient 
supplies 
Prescribers hold the responsibility 
to ensure they have adequate 
prescription pads 

Non-Nurse Prescriber  
Use stock items and order 
prescription to replenish patient’s 
supplies 
Leave adequate supplies at patient 
home for next visit 

Fax prescription to GP surgery  
Retain a copy of the fax report for audit  
Administration support will collate this information and chase 
receipt of the faxed prescription  

Administration support to highlight to the Lead Nurse all of the 
prescriptions which require confirmation of delivery. 
Non-Nurse Prescribers and Nurse Prescribers are to ensure 
that pharmacy has delivered to the patient within 72 hours 

If patient has not received the prescription please continue to 
use stock item 

Community Nursing Team January 2018 v1 

Chairman:  Jenni Ord                                                                                                   Chief Executive:  Diane Wake 

Chief Executive:

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