Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2018

Cuthbert Hingert

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2018-0280, written 1 Aug 2018. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report1 Aug 2018
Reference2018-0280
DeceasedCuthbert Hingert
CoronerCaroline Sumeray
Coroner areaIsle of Wight
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedIsle of Wight 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.

REGULATION 28:  REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1.  Maggie Oldham, Chief Executive, Isle of Wight NHS Trust. 
2.  Clinical Commissioning Group, Isle of Wight NHS Trust. 

1 

CORONER 

I am Caroline Sarah Sumeray, Senior Coroner for the Coroner Area of the Isle of Wight. 

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  8th  March  2017  I  commenced  an  investigation  into  the  death  of  Cuthbert  Anthony 

Stanley Hingert, aged 86. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 22nd 

June  2018.  The  conclusion  of  the  inquest  was  Mr  Hingert  died  as  the  result  of  an 

accident. 

The medical cause of death was found to be: 

 1a Acute on Chronic Subdural Haematoma. 

 1b Trauma to the Head. 

 1c 

 II   Heart Failure, Urinary Tract Infection, Chronic Kidney Disease, Hypertension, Atrial 

Fibrillation treated with Anticoagulant Medication and Diabetes Mellitus. 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

1)  Cuthbert  Anthony  Stanley  Hingert  was  born  on  3rd  May  1930  in  Ceylon,  now 

known as Sri Lanka. At the time of his death, he was 86 years of age. 

2)  He  was  admitted  to  the  Emergency  Department  of  St  Mary’s  Hospital,  Isle  of 

Wight NHS Trust, in the morning of the 3rd March 2017 with shortness of breath 

over  the  previous  2  weeks.  He  was  found  to  have  pulmonary  oedema  and 

preliminary  investigations  raised  the  possibility  of  acute  coronary  syndrome 

which  necessitated 

the  administration  of  antiplatelet  and  anticoagulant 

medications.  During  Mr  Hingert’s  management,  duplicate  doses  of  these 

1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 medications were given within a short period of time. 

3)  Mr Hingert was transferred to the Acute Coronary Care Unit (CCU Acute) on the 

evening  of  the  3rd  March  for  further  management  of  his  Acute  Coronary 

Syndrome. During the first 36 hours in the CCU Acute, Mr Hingert continued to 

have  cardiac  symptoms  as  well  as  developing  symptoms  of  confusion  and 

reduced mental acuity.  

4)  On the 5th March 2017, whilst self-mobilising, Mr Hingert sustained a fall hitting 

his  head  on  the  floor.  A  CT  scan  showed  that  he  had  sustained  a  subdural 

haematoma,  skull  fracture  and  a  subarachnoid  haemorrhage.  He  deteriorated 

throughout  the  day  and  died  at  St  Mary’s  Hospital,  IOW  NHS  Trust,  on  the 

evening of 5th March 2017. 

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.  The  evidence  revealed  that  the  Medical  Registrar  did  not  check  the  JAC 

medicines database to see that Mr Hingert had already been administered a stat 

dose  of  antiplatelets  and  anticoagulant  medication  before  prescribing  second 

dose of these medications. 

2.  The Medical Registrar prescribed aspirin to continue at 300mg rather than at the 

standard dose of 75mg daily. 

3.  Mr Hingert had already been prescribed continuing doses of Fondaparinux and 

Ticagrelor, which (fortuitously) were not administered. 

4.  There  was  evidence  that  at  least  one  of  the  clinicians  treating  Mr  Hingert  had 

not been trained to use the JAC medicines database. 

5.  There  was  a  2-hour  delay  in  writing  up  a  verbal  order  with  regard  to  a 

prescribing decision. 

6.  A  decision  was  made  to  treat  Mr  Hingert,  who  was  already  confused,  with  the 

hypnotic Zopiclone, which may not have been a sound clinical decision. 

7.  Upon discovering the errors with the medications which are documented above, 

a  nurse  did  not  follow  hospital  protocol  and  make  a  DATIX  incident  report 

2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 despite acknowledging that she should have done so immediately. 

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and/or 
your organisation 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 26th September 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: the family of Cuthbert Anthony Stanley Hingert (and their legal representative, 

) and the Isle of Wight NHS Trust. 

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 

H.M. Senior Coroner – Isle of Wight 

1st August 2018                                               

3

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