Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2018

Derek Smith

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2018-0186, written 19 Jun 2018. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report19 Jun 2018
Reference2018-0186
DeceasedDerek Smith
CoronerAndrew Haigh
Coroner areaStaffordshire (South)
CategoryCare Home Health related deaths
Organisation namedMidlands Partnership University 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
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

VIRGIN CARE SERVICES LIMITED
Lynton House

7-12 Tavistock Square

London WC1H 9LT

CORONER

| am Mr Andrew Haigh Senior Coroner for the coroner area of Staffordshire South

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 29 December 2017 | commenced an investigation into the death of Derek
Reginald Smith aged 86 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the
inquest on 15 June 2018. The conclusion of the inquest was ‘An elderly gentleman
with major natural health problems who had developed severe pressure sores’.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Mr Smith lived at home but he could not manage any of his care needs and he was
bedbound. He had regular attendances by carers. He had frequent visits by district
nurses and other professionals saw him at times. He died at his home on 21
December 2017 from aspiration pneumonia. On 6th December he had been found
to have a pressure sore on his sacrum that went down to the bone.

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. —

It became apparent at the inquest that there was very little communication between
the District Nursing team who attended Mr Smith and family members (and possibly
little communication with the attending carers as well). There was also an issue
regarding the availability of nursing records as well. It may be that Mr Smith’s death
could not be prevented but there could have been opportunities for helpful
interventions by the family and earlier decision making regarding Mr Smith's
treatment. Suitable communication could well be a significant factor in other cases. |
wonder if systems could be changed to ensure better communication between the

District Nursing team, family members and other agencies involved.
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 14 August 2018. |, 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:
Mr Smith’s family
Midlands Partnership 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.
9 | 19 June 2018
wie Sigh sang ete Ne senmess
HM Senior Coroner for Staffordshire (South)
Coroner's Office
No 1 Staffordshire Place
Stafford
ST16 2LP
Tel No: 01785 276127
sscor@staffordshire.gov.uk

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