Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2018

Bridget Marie Connell-Graham

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2018-0297, written 26 Sep 2018. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report26 Sep 2018
Reference2018-0297
DeceasedBridget Marie Connell-Graham
CoronerAlison Mutch
Coroner areaManchester South
CategoryChild Death (from 2015) · Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

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 |S BEING SENT TO: The Secretary of State for Health
CORONER

| am Alison Mutch ,Senior 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 5" February 2018 | commenced an investigation into the death of
Bridget Marie Connell-Graham. The investigation concluded on the 20
August 2018 and the conclusion was one of Narrative: Died from the

recognised consequences of premature birth the precise cause of which
is unclear.

The medical cause of death was Extreme prematurity

On 1st February 2018 Bridget Marie Connell-Graham's mother went into
premature labour at 20 weeks gestation at her home addressyggyy

She was born at her parents
address and subsequently transferred alive to Tameside General
Hospital, on 1st February 2018 she died there from extreme prematurity.

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. —
The inquest heard that at a scan performed on 31° January 2018 after an
attendance the previous day with an episode of bleeding Bridget’s mother
was found to have a shortened cervix. On 1° February she was bor

prematurely.

A history of cervical trauma was contained within the maternal notes. The
inquest heard that whilst there is guidance from NICE as to the
appropriate action to be taken where there is a history of cervical trauma
there is no clear definition of what amounts to cervical trauma. The
inquest was told that this means there is an inconsistent approach
nationally as to what will be treated as a history of cervical trauma and
therefore in what steps are taken in relation to investigating a previous
history of cervical trauma and planning clinical treatment during
pregnancy.

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.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date
of this report, namely by 22" November 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.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

1] have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following
interested Persons ore of
Bridget Connell-Graham, who may find it useful or of interest.

| 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.

Alison Mutch OBE
HM Senior Coroner
26" September 2018 ATIVAN

Responses

1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from Department of Health Social Care (PDF)
> From Jackie Doyle-Price MP’

Deparment Pastry Unt Seas Sis Mis Hea

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Social Care 39 Vitoria Steet
SWI1H OEU

Your Ref: 9480/CLB 020 7210 4850

PFD-1150539

Ms Alison Patricia Mutch
HM Coroner's Court

1 Mount Tabor Street
Stockport

SK1 3AG

(November 2018

Deo, NA Martech,

Thank you for your correspondence of 26 September to Matt Hancock about the
death of baby Bridget Marie Connell-Graham. I am replying as Minister with
portfolio responsibility for maternity care.

I have noted carefully the matter of concern in your report. It is essential that we
look to make improvements where we can to ensure the safety of healthcare services
and prevent future deaths and I am grateful to you for bringing these matters to my
attention.

My officials have made enquiries with the National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence (NICE). I am advised that the guideline, Preterm labour and birth
(NG25)', includes a ‘Terms to use in the guideline’ section (at the end of
Recommendations) that contains key definitions. This currently does not include a
definition of cervical trauma. However, the full guideline document for NG25 does.
The full guideline document contains the recommendations, the evidence they are
based on and considerations of the guideline developers. It also contains a glossary
which defines cervical trauma as “Physical injury to the cervix including surgery, for
example, previous cone biopsy (cold knife or laser), large loop excision of the
transformation zone (LLETZ) — any number) or radical diathermy”.

' https://www.nic .uk/euid 2:

NICE has advised that it will ensure this definition is added to the ‘Terms used in this

guideline’ section as soon as possible, so it is easily accessible to those looking over
the recommendations.

I hope this response is helpful.

JACKIE DOYLE-PRICE

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