Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2019

Myla Deviren

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2019-0311, written 24 Sep 2019. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report24 Sep 2019
Reference2019-0311
DeceasedMyla Deviren
CoronerRosamund Rhodes-Kemp
Coroner areaCambridgeshire and Peterborough
CategoryChild Death (from 2015) · Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths · Emergency services related deaths (2019 onwards)
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 (1) 

NOTE:  This from is to be used after an inquest. 
REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:  

1  ……CEO Public Health England……………………………… 
2  ……NHS111……………………………… 
3  ……Herts Urgent Care Limited…………………………… 

1   CORONER 

I am Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp, Assistant Coroner  for the area of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 

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 28/08/2015 I commenced an investigation into the death of Myla DEVIREN aged 2.  The investigation 
concluded at the end of the inquest on 19/07/2019.  The conclusion of the inquest was: 

1a Small intestinal infarction 

1b Small Intestinal Volvulus 

1c Congenital intestinal malrotation 

II  
4   CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 
27th August 2017  
Peterborough City Hospital Edith Cavell Campus Bretton Gate Peterborough  

Myla Deviren (DOB 20.08.13). had congenital intestinal malrotation and developed a volvulus at 
approximately midnight on 26th August 2015. Her mother checked the NHS Symptom finder on 
line and the advice was to take her to  A/E but she called 111 for advice. 

04.06 The Health Assistant   who took the call did not appreciate the significance of key symptoms due to 
multiplicity of symptoms described at the outset. 

04.21 He passed the caller on a “ warm” transfer to the Clinical Adviser whose initial reaction on hearing that 
the symptoms included blue lips and breathlessness was to call an ambulance, ignored her instincts 
and took mum through a series of  digital pathways re lesser symptoms. When directly asking re the 
breathlessness and mum put the phone close to her daughter enabling the Clinical Adviser  to hear the rapid 
breathing herself the latter did not appreciate the significance of it and did not call an ambulance. 

04.55 She did however pass the call to the Out Of Hours  Nurse who decided that this was a case of 
gastroenteritis early in the call and did not appreciate the description of a child with worsening 
signs –she said herself that she should have sent Myla down to the GP on duty at  the  Out Of Hours Centre. 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 She did not do so. Instead she gave worsening advice and terminated the call. 

Whilst the precise point at which Myla stopped breathing is not known it was sometime between 
when she was last seen alive approximately 06.00 and  then found unresponsive at 08.00 on the 27th 
August 2015. 

She was then taken by ambulance to Peterborough City Hospital where, despite attempts at 
Resuscitation, she did not recover a heartbeat and was pronounced dead at 08.53. 

Post mortem revealed small bowel infarction from untreated small intestinal volvulus. 

It is probable that with earlier transfer to hospital by ambulance and with appropriate treatment 
M D would have survived. 

5   CORONER’S CONCERNS 

The MATTERS OF CONCERNS are as follows:  

Children-particularly  small  infants  do  not  present  like  adults  when  they  are  very  unwell.  Nor  can  they 
articulate their symptoms in a way that lends itself to prescribed pathway questions and answers and they 
are not in front of the staff handling the calls who therefore rely on parents for information. 

Whilst since this event there have been steps to provide training of staff at 111 and Out of Hours services and 
NHS Digital have reworked the pathways to deal with multiplicity of symptoms there are still concerns re what 
further steps may be taken regrading  cases involving children and infants. Evidence given at the Inquest was 
that about 20% of calls to both services relate to sick children. There should therefore be robust systems in 
place to prevent sick children going without potentially lifesaving treatment. 
Steps should include: 

1.  Mandatory annual training for all staff on recognising and interpreting signs and symptoms for all 

staff taking calls needs to be put in place. 

2.  A suitably qualified paediatric specialist clinician should be available to discuss or review such cases 

at all times. 

3.      The default position and precautionary advice should be- if in doubt call an ambulance. 

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 19 November 2019.  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     
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………                                                                                          
and to the Local Safeguarding Board (where the deceased was 18).  I have also sent it to        
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………                                                      
who may find it useful or of interest. 

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    
Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp 

Rosamund Henrietta Duncan Rhodes-Kemp 
Assistant Coroner  
for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 
Dated: 24.09.19

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