Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2017

Margery Astill

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2017-0440, written 11 Jul 2017. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report11 Jul 2017
Reference2017-0440
DeceasedMargery Astill
CoronerLydia Brown
Coroner areaLeicester (City & South)
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedLeicestershire Partnership NHS Trust · University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

Leicestershire Partnership ~  ~ ~~, ' ~_

~d H s Tru$t

Direct dial;
Email:

Our ref: MA/REG28/0817

16 August 2017

By email to Leicester.coroner(7leicester.gov.uk
Lydia Brown
Assistant Coroner
Leicester City and. South Leicestershire
The Town Hall
Town Hall Square
Leicester LE1 9BG

Dear Mrs Brawn

Re: Margery Astill

A University Teaching Trust

Corporate Affairs
Room 170, Penn Lloyd building
County Hall
Leicester
LE3 8TH

Tel: 0116 295 1350
Fax: Q116 225 5233
www.leicsRart.nhs.uk

Further to your report dated 11 July 2017, in accordance with paragraph 7, Schedule
5 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners
(Investigations) Regulations 2013, I offer the following response.

We have investigated the matters of concern that have arisen during the course of
the inquest of Margery Astill.  Leicestershire Partnership  NHS Trust takes these
matters very seriously and I  hope that you and Ms Astill's family will be satisfied that
we have taken the appropriate measures to prevent such an occurrence happening
again.

The matters of concern you have raised are as follows:

Diary systems for ensuring referrals to different specialisms were not effective,
such as for physiotherapy and the failure of these systems was not identified
until  the  inquest  was  held.  Furthermore,  the  system  for  entering  and
updating/amending incident reporting was unclear and reported incidents were
not reviewed by a senior employee in a timely fashion on this occasion.

Mental  Health  Services  Older Persons (MMSOP) Ward  Staff  Teams have
developed, and  are  in  the  process of implementing, a Standard  Operating
Procedure  for  the  safe  and  effective  management  of  the  ward  diary.
Implementation  is  being  led  and embedded in  daily  practice  by the Senior
Inpatient Matrons and undertaken by each individual Ward Matron. The process
also clearly defines how the ward tasks will be allocated and documented. This
process will be subject to an ongoing monthly audit to provide assurance that this
is being embedded in practice.

MHSOP currently formally review all incidents weekly however there is a system
in place for daily incident analysis which is supported  by the Trust's Patient
Safety Team that assures that the correct processes are being followed.

Chair: Cathy Ellis  Chief Executive: Dr Peter Miller

 MHSOP Ward Teams have also successfully piloted ward Safety Huddles and
these are in  place across Organic Wards as part of team working.  Safety
Huddles have been instrumental in supporting the ward teams in their shift by
shift communication creating space to be able to dynamically assess the ward
climate  and talk  about patient risk and incidents and how these are to be
managed.

As a further assurance measure the MHSOP wards are also  being robustly
supported with routinely designated safeguarding practice supervision sessions
which look at, and analyse how, incidents have been managed and what has
been teamed from this when in-patient harm.

The previous installation of CCTV was to support the detection and prevention of
crime.  However within MHS4P it has been instrumental in bringing a new level
of understanding incidents that occur on the wards. CCTV now forms a key part
of the posf incident analysis process.  As an additional assurance measure to
ensure that the CCN is being used in this way, plans are in place to routinely
undertake an audit of cross checking reported incident's and what parts of the
CCTV recordings were reviewed to support the investigation process.

2. Communication  with  family  members was inadequate  and inaccurate, the
„named nurse" system was Ineffecfive and therefore opportunities were lost to
share information and fo keep the family informed and involved. The failure of
the Trust fo engage with family members of patients with mental health issues
have been raised in the past as a concern, and contrary to NICE Guidelines.

The Trust acknowledges that the communication shared with the family following
both the incidents was not an accurate description of the events which was later
revealed in the CGTV footage. When the staff involved in the incidents provided
Mrs  Astill's  family  with  information  regarding  her  falls,  their  form  of
communication did not convey the accuracy of the situation. In order to enhance
the nursing  staff with  their  communication skills,  the nurses involved  have
subsequently  attended  a  bespoke  training  course  delivered  by  LORDS
(Leicester  Hospice  Charity).  This  training  course  supports  enhanced
communication skills needed to support patients and relatives.

The service has approved the updated named nurse role and responsibility
patient and carer information leaflet.  Posters will  be displayed on each ward
defining the role of the named nurse to ensure that both patients and carers are
clear about what to expect. A named nurse checklist has also been established
to support Registered  Nurses to  carry out this  role. This provides a clear
accountability  and  audit  trail  whilst  setting,  standards  around  timely
communication with relatives and carers.

The Trust further acknowledges the Coroner's concern that it has not engaged
with family members of patients with mental health issues which is contrary to
Nice Guideline 13~'. With particular reference to mental health services for older

~ Service user experience in adult mental health: improving the experience of care for people using
adult NHS mental health services (NICE Guideline, 136)

Chair. Cathy Eris  Chief Executive: Or Peter Miller

 people and inpatient admissions the service will  be undertaking a spot check
audit against the quality standard's as set out for hospital care.

3. Mrs AsfiU had two unwitnessed falls  during her time in  the unit,  both  were
recorded on CCTV and both were due to interaEtian with other patients. The first
fall was quickly attended by numerous nursing staff members, but there was a
considerable delay in actually physically attending to the patient, examining her
or taking basic observations. In a professional nursing environment this delay in
first aid provision  was of concern and the  Trust should consider enhanced
training to ensure immediate effective interventions.

The Trust resuscitation lead has the responsibility for the Resuscitation Councils
(UK) Basic Life Suppork and Immediate Life Suppork training. As part of their
review they will  analyse the CCTV footage to  understand  if  there are any
organisational changes required to the training, or if this is purely an individual
training requirement.

In addition to the above, I  can confirm that the Trust Resuscitation Committee is
overseeing the implementation of clinical  drills.  These drills  re-enact patient
emergency situations in the clinical setting in which staff on duty will participate
in and will  then  be offered  immediate practice  reflection  and feedback with
regard to how they have responded to and managed this in practice.

The MHSOP Clinical Education Lead is also scheduling in furkher experiential
learning  and  practice  development training  opportunities  to  reflect  on the
immediate person centred approach to support emergency medical situa#ions.

If I can be of any furkher assistance to you please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

~~
Dr Peter Miller
Chief Executive

Chair: Cathy Ellis  Chief Executive: Dr Peter Miller
Also filed under 2017-0440: Margery-Astill-2017-0440_Redacted.pdf
REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

Dr P. Miller, Chief Executive, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

1

CORONER

am Lydia Brown, Assistant Coroner for Leicester (City and South)

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 12/09/2016 I  commenced an investigation into the death of Margery Annie Astill, 79.
The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 09 June 2017.

The conclusion of the inquest was Accidental death &attached sheet.

Question 1a. Did Mrs Astill have a care plan during her admission, if not, should one
have been put in place? Answer. No care plan but there should have been one as only
had a community care plan.
1 b. Was there an effective "named nurse" system, and if not, should there have been?
Answer. Insufficient evidence.
2. Was Mrs Astill assaulted by a patient on 29 August 2016, sustaining a head injury
that required hospital treatment? Answer. Yes as seen on CCTV. 
3. Should the safeguarding team and family of Mrs Astill have been informed on 30
August 2016 that she had been the victim of an assault? Answer. Yes.
4. Was the ward adequately staffed on 2 September 2016? Answer. No, ward had 5
staff instead of 6.
5. Were designated patient observation levels properly maintained on the afternoon of 2
September 2016? Answer. No as not all observations were completed.
6. Could any additional steps have been taken by the ward nursing staff or medical team
to address the agitated patient's escalating behaviour of running around the ward do 2
September 2016? If so please set these out from the evidence available to you. Answer.
Nothing more could have been done.

,

Cause of death:
1a  Bronchopneumonia 
1 b  Traumatic axonal injury

r

4

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

On the 27th August 2016 the deceased had been admitted to the Evington Centre
having been detained under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act. On the 2nd September
2016 the deceased .collided with another agitated patient who was running around the
ward, causing her to fall to the ground in the Wakerley Ward corridor. She was taken to
the Leicester Royal Infirmary on the same day, and diagnosed with unsurvivable head
injuries. She died 3 days later on the 5th September 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. —

(1) Diary systems for ensuring referrals to different specialisms were not effective, such
as for physiotherapy and the failure of these systems was not identified until the
inquest was held. Furthermore, the system for entering and updating/amending
incident reporting was unclear and reported incidents were not reviewed by a senior
employee in a timely fashion on this occasion.

(2) Communication with family members was inadequate and inaccurate, the "named
nurse" system was ineffective and therefore opportunities were lost to share
information and to keep the family informed and involved. The failure of the Trust to
engage with family members of patients with mental health issues have been raised
in the past as a concern, and contrary to NICE Guidelines.

(3) Mrs Astill had two unwitnessed falls during her time in the unit, both were

recorded on CCTV and both were due to interaction with other patients. The first fall
was quickly attended by numerous nursing staff members, but there was a
considerable delay in actually physically attending to the patient, examining her or
taking basic observations. In a professional nursing environment this delay in first
,aid provision was of concern and the Trust should consider enhanced training to
ensure immediate effective interventions

I. ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

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

7

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by Tuesday 5`h September 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.

8

COPIES and PUBLICATION

have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested

Persons:

 (son),

 (daughter).

Mr J. Adler, Chief Executive, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.
Sir David Behan, Chief Executive, Care and Quality Commission.

 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 their lease or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

9

[DATE] 

11t"July 2017

B 

ONER]

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