Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2018

Marcus Hamilton

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2018-0005, written 5 Jan 2018. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report5 Jan 2018
Reference2018-0005
DeceasedMarcus Hamilton
CoronerAndrew Bridgman
Coroner areaManchester South
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths · Mental Health related deaths
Organisation namedGreater Manchester Mental 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.

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:
Ms Bev Humphries, Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS
Foundation Trust, Trust Headquarters, Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester M25
3BL

CORONER

lam Andrew Bridgman, Assistant Coroner, for the coroner area of South Manchester

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 12" July 2017 | commenced an investigation into the death of one Marcus Dale
Hamilton (“MDH”). The investigation concluded on the 27" October 2017.

The medical cause of death was;
1a) Drug toxicity

and the conclusion was;

Drug related

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

MDH was a long-term service user of the Trafford Drug Treatment Services, over 20
years. MDH’s death was caused by the combined respiratory depressive effects of a
number of drugs taken in slight excess and at such levels that none of them alone would |
have given rise to a fatality. There was no evidence of deliberate intent.

CORONER'S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence gave rise to a matter which caused me
concern, and from which | am of the view 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:

For a number of years MDH was on a maintenance programme with MXL, which he
teceived on a 28 days prescription.

In December 2015 MDH informed GMMH that he was taking a long trip of 51 days, to
Goa, India. MDH was advised that he could only have a 28 day prescription of MXL to
take with him. He was only given a 28 day prescription along with the necessary
documentation for travelling with the drug.

In discussion with the witness from GMMH (MDH’s Recovery Worker) regarding the fact
that MDH would clearly run out of his prescription maintenance MXL part way through
his holiday the answer | received was that there were drugs in India and MDH would be

able to obtain some more MXL. The witness accepted that it could not be certain that
MDH (or any other service user) would be able to obtain their maintenance drug (MXL or
other) and that such MXL that MDH managed to get hold of would probably have been
from the illicit drug market. The same applying to any other service user for whatever
maintenance drug.

Whilst | accept that what was said does not likely represent GMMH policy what the
witness was telling me was, in fact, the reality of the situation created by GMMHs
policy/protocol.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion there should be a review of GMMH's policy that currently appears to fail to
accommodate the needs of service users leaving the UK for longer periods than the
protocol provides for their prescription of maintenance mediation.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by 2" March 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.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Persons — mother of the deceased, who may find it
useful or of interest.

lam 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.

Andrew Bri ut man, Assistant Coroner
Manchester South

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