Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2019

Doris Clark

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2019-0444, written 19 Dec 2019. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report19 Dec 2019
Reference2019-0444
DeceasedDoris Clark
CoronerNadia Persaud
Coroner areaEast London
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedBarking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS 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

T

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

Chris Bown, Interim Chief Executive, Barking, Havering & Redbridge
University Hospitals NHS Trust

CORONER

| am Nadia Persaud, Senior Coroner for the Coroner area of East London

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/uksi/2013/1629/part/7/made

| On the 20" June 2019 | commenced an investigation into the death of Doris Daisy Laura

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

Clark. The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest on the 18" December
2019. The conclusion of the Inquest was the short form conclusion of “accident”.

f

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Mrs Clarke fell in her home address on the 3 November 2018. She remained on the
floor for around 6 hours before paramedics were called. Paramedics attended and
suspected that she had suffered a fractured neck of femur. The paramedics
administered 5 mls (10 milligrams) of Oramorph at 15:40. A further 5 mis (10
milligrams) was administered at 15:50. Despite this administration of pain relief, Mrs
Clark reported severe pain on arrival to hospital. She was seen by an A & E consultant
who prescribed a further 10 milligrams of morphine to be administered intravenously.
This further dose of morphine was administered at 17:58. It was not titrated, but was
administered as an IV push. Following this administration, Mrs Clark was not monitored
in accordance with Trust policy. Mrs Clark suffered a large vomit whilst lying flat. At
around 19:00 hours Mrs Clark was noted to be unwell with reduced oxygen saturation
and reduced conscious levels. Pulmonary embolism, chest infection (possible
aspiration) and or opiate toxicity were considered as potential causes. She received
treatment with oxygen IV fluids and antibiotics. Naloxone was also given to reverse the
effect of the opiate medication. A pulmonary embolism was ruled out. Mrs Clark
continued to receive treatment in the form of fluids, antibiotics and oxygen. Sadly
however she passed away at Queens Hospital on the 11" November 2018. Itis likely
that the fall and long lie/immobility caused by the fractured femur and the administration
of 30 milligrams of morphine over a 2 hour 20 minute period, contributed to her death.

CORONER'S CONCERNS

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. —

The doctor who prescribed the morphine at Queens Hospital had not appreciated that
the London Ambulance Service paramedics had administered 20 milligrams of
morphine. If he had been aware of this he would not have administered a further 10
milligrams. The doctor did not note that the paramedics had referred to mls as Opposed

| to mgs in the medication section of the Patient Report Form. The doctor confirmed that
| the units used in hospital are mgs.

| It was agreed by all witnesses that great care needs to be taken in the administration of

Opiate medication. It was agreed that the use of different units by the pre-hospital |
service and the hospitals themselves creates risk and creates concern as to the risk of
future deaths. It is requested that the Trust liaise with the London Ambulance Service to
determine whether the units for administration of Opiate medication can be standardised
between the hospitals and pre-hospital services,

|

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 12" February 2020. |, 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

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to Fe (daughter of the |
| deceased), the London Ambulance Service, Care Quality Commission and Director of
Public Health,

Iam 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.

|

19/12/2019 _&) R)

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