Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2018

Lewis Colgan

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2018-0161, written 9 May 2018. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report9 May 2018
Reference2018-0161
DeceasedLewis Colgan
CoronerCrispin Butler
Coroner areaBuckinghamshire
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths · Mental Health 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.

C.G.BUTLER
SENIOR CORONER + BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

1._Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

1 | CORONER

lam CRISPIN GILES BUTLER, Senior Coroner, for the coroner area of
Buckinghamshire

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/ukpga/2009/25/schedule/5/paragraph/7

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

3 | INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 18" September 2017 | commenced an investigation into the death of Lewis Daryl
COLGAN. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 30" April 2018.

The findings included that it was possible, but not probable, that the following omissions
in Lewis’ mental health care contributed to his death: (1) the frequency of care
programme meetings did not meet local or national standards; (2) psychology
engagement stopped in July 2016 with no explanation; (3) there was no supervision of
the last care coordinator with conduct of Lewis’ case; (4) there was no coordination of
mental and physical health care; (5) there was little evidence of effective communication
between the mental health team and Lewis in relation to his care; (6) at the time of his
death Lewis was unaware of a place on an anxiety management course which was
causing him concern prior to his death.

The medical cause of death was recorded as 1a. Multiple Severe Traumatic Injuries
caused by 1b Collision with Train

The conclusion of the inquest was suicide

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

At approximately 1608hrs on 15" September 2017 Lewis Colgan was captured on
CCTV at Princes Risborough Station jumping from the platform onto the track into the
path of a northbound non-stop passenger train.

He was struck by the train and died immediately at the scene as a result of the
unsurvivable injuries he sustained.

It was not possible for those who engaged with Lewis on the date of his death to have
predicted the event which took place subsequently that day.

Coroner’s Office, 29 Windsor End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. HP9 2JJ
Tel: (01494) 475 505
Fax: (01494) 673 760
E Mail: coroners@buckscc.gov.uk

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ET MON.

C.G.BUTLER
SENIOR CORONER + BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

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 could 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) It was clear from the evidence that the role of the care coordinator is very important
in terms of engagement with patients, conducting risk assessments, coordinating
necessary or periodic meetings and providing regular input to the care team. In Lewis’
case the evidence indicated that the last care coordinator with conduct of his case had
not received supervision, that the caseload was, for a period, incompatible with part time
working, and that the frequency of engagement with Lewis had reduced compared with
what had occurred in previous years. There were also concerns about upward
supervision of the care team during this period. Whilst evidence was given that the
supervision arrangements are being addressed, there remain concerns that supervision
within teams and cross-supervision between teams, particularly of the critical role and
caseload of care coordinator, may still lack robustness.

(2) Lewis’ mental health care revealed issues with regard to management of staff
changes and sickness and particularly coordination of continuity of engagement and
care in the context of Lewis’ care plan in the absence of key participants in his care on
long term sick leave, notably the roles of care coordinator and psychologist and,
notwithstanding evidence indicating steps being taken to address staffing issues, there
remains a concern that, given the personal nature of the mental health care provided to
individuals and the significance of regular engagement with specific individuals, that
provision of care in compliance with specified care plans may be compromised.

(3) There did not appear to be a robust reactive process for alerting members of the care
team in relation to overdue Care Programme Approach (CPA) meetings nor a proactive
approach to addressing the scheduling of these. Evidence given during the Inquest from
different Trust witnesses appeared to identify a difference of opinion as regards what the
policy was for frequency of CPA meetings. A concern exists regarding knowledge of
what the current policy is and how it is being applied.

(4) Whilst a Root Cause Analysis had been undertaken and a report provided, there
were concerns raised during the Inquest with regard to staff training, which the report did
not address, and the last care coordinator with conduct of Lewis’ case was not able to
participate in the investigation, nor the Inquest. The report did not include an ongoing
action to engage with that care coordinator in order to fully address the issues raised in
that investigation. As a result, there remains an ongoing concern about the robustness
of the investigation and actions identified.

Coroner’s Office, 29 Windsor End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. HP9 2JJ
Tel: (01494) 475 505
Fax: (01494) 673 760
E Mail: coroners@buckscc.gov.uk

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SEO th Oy
ET MON,

C.G.BUTLER
SENIOR CORONER - BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

6 | 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.

7 | YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by au July 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

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the family of Lewis Colgan.

| 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 | Date: Ga (4A 20x
tila Cire » ASRé

Crispin Giles Butler, Senior Coroner for Buckinghamshire

Coroner’s Office, 29 Windsor End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. HP9 2JJ
Tel: (01494) 475 505
Fax: (01494) 673 760
E Mail: coroners@buckscc.gov.uk

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