Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2019

Julie Taylor

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2019-0454, written 24 Dec 2019. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report24 Dec 2019
Reference2019-0454
DeceasedJulie Taylor
CoronerAlison Mutch
Coroner areaManchester South
CategoryCare Home Health related deaths
Organisation namedStockport NHS Foundation Trust
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published2

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 IS BEING SENT TO: Secretary of State for Health and
the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership

|1 | CORONER

| am Alison Mutch, Senior Coroner, for the Coroner Area of Greater
Manchester South

2 | 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

3 | INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 25" September 2018, t commenced an investigation into the death of
Julie Helen Taylor. The investigation concluded on the 28'" November
2019 and the conclusion was one of Narrative: Died from the
complications of the chicken pox virus contracted whilst awaiting
discharge from hospital to a suitable rehabilitation facility.

The medical cause of death was 1a) Pneumonitis; 1b) Varicella
Zoster virus infection; II) Downs syndrome, poor nutritional status

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Julie Helen Taylor had Downs Syndrome and consequential
significant learning disabilities. She was resident at a residential
care facility. Her care was funded and she required 24/7 support
and was ona long term DoLS. She had an allocated social
worker and was under the care of the community learning
disabilities team. From June 2018 she began to consistently
refuse to eat. Between May 2018 and August 2018 her weight
dropped from 10st 3lb to 7st 10lb. Two community Multi-
Disciplinary Team meetings were held; one on 31° July 2018
and the other on 16th August 2018. On 31st July 2018 the
possibility of a Community Treatment Review was raised. On
16th August 2018 the meeting concluded a learning disability
hospital admission was required. This required approval. The
Derbyshire facility was closed to new admissions and an out of
area bed or an alternative was required. It was unclear what

form this would take.

Julie Taylor continued to deteriorate and on medical advice was
taken to Stepping Hill Hospital on 215 August 2018 with
symptoms of dehydration. She was accompanied by carers who
gave a detailed account of her needs and situation. She lacked
capacity. A reasonable adjustments care plan was not
completed until 23% August 2018.It was recognised a side room
would be a more suitable environment but one was not available.
There was no clear multi-disciplinary discussion in relation to the
decision.

Her nutritional status deteriorated further whilst in hospital.
Between 215 August 2018 and her last documented weight on
8"" September 2018 she lost 14 kilograms. Her MUST score was
6. There was no referral to the nutritional Multi-Disciplinary
Team. She was discharged by the Hospital Dietician Team whilst
her weight loss continued. There was no best interests meeting
regarding her care in the hospital. She was not seen by a
learning disabilities consultant until 7" September 2018. The
review was conducted on information provided by the community
psychiatrist that was limited and in parts inaccurate. A diagnosis
of moderate to severe depression was made and olanzapine and
sertraline which had been stopped in the community in May
2018 were restarted. A meeting on 6'* September 2018 agreed a
Continuing Healthcare Assessment was required. There were
ongoing discussions regarding a discharge destination.

On 13" September 2018 whilst awaiting discharge she
developed a rash. A specialist dermatology registrar on 14!"
September 2018 believed it was a reaction to medication. The
medications were stopped. She deteriorated rapidly. She was
deemed not fit for intensive care. On 16" September 2018 her
rash was identified as being chicken pox and anti-viral
medications started. On the balance of probabilities the virus
was contracted whist an in-patient at the hospital. She showed
initial signs of improvement following treatment but the lung
damage from the virus infection was significant. On 23%
September 2018 she died at Stepping Hill Hospital from
pneumonitis.

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 upon her admission to hospital the
Emergency Department, where she spent a prolonged period of
time, and Acute Medical Unit (AMU), had not recognised the need
for a reasonable adjustment care plan to help them understand her
complex needs. One was not put in place until she reached a
medical ward. The trust had since her death taken steps to rectify |
the position and avoid it happening again. The inquest heard that it
was unclear if nationally there was a clear understanding in
Emergency Departments and AMU'’s of the need for reasonable
care adjustment plans and the impact that lack of provision could
have on delivering effective care to those with learning disabilities
in an acute setting;

No formal best interests meeting(s) was/were held whilst Julie
Taylor was an inpatient at the acute hospital. Key decisions were
taken regarding what tests to carry out; where to nurse her and
whether to place her on End of Life care without the benefit of a
best interests meeting. Decisions were taken with no rationale for
them being documented in her notes. The inquest heard that the
trust had taken steps to promote the use of best interests
meetings/improved documentation in similar cases in the future
but that nationally there was a lack of consistency around the use
of best interests meetings/documentation of decision making and
rationales for those decisions;

. Prior to her admission to the acute hospital there had been on-
going discussion about her deteriorating condition and where her
care needs could more effectively met. The inquest heard that both
in the community and subsequently in the acute setting there was
a need for improved communication between agencies
/professionals to ensure a clear, consistent and effective plan was
put in to meet the needs of those with a learning disability. In her
case it was recognised at the end of July that a learning disability
acute bed would be beneficial. Driving that forward was limited by
a number of factors including communication between agencies
involved;

. The inquest also heard that a particular challenge existed where a
need was identified for an acute learning disability bed. There was
a very limited number of such beds available. In Derbyshire at the
time of her need the unit had closed to new admissions and
therefore any such bed would need to be sourced from outside the
county from the limited number of national beds. The limited
number of beds meant she may well have been placed many miles
from her family and other familiar sights. The fact that one was not
available in the county meant that she could not be moved straight
away when the need was confirmed at a meeting in August 2018;

. Prior to her significant deterioration in the community the inquest
heard that there was some communication between her
community psychiatrist and the learning disability team. There was
limited evidence of a joint approach between the psychiatrist and
learning disability team where the prescriber in that team changed
the medication. Her consultant was not present at the ke

|__| why no action is proposed.

meetings at the end of July/August and therefore a clear clinical

steer from the psychiatrist was not available to the meetings. It
was unclear what expectations there should be nationally around
attendance and where a key member of the team could not attend
how to ensure effective communication of their views before and
after meetings; :

6. In her community care setting Julie Taylor had wraparound care
provided by carers who knew her well and were trained to deal
with someone with her profound needs. In the acute setting that
level of support and care was not available. As a result she
became distressed and increasingly less compliant with necessary
medical interventions. The inquest heard that the issue of support
that can be provided to those with a learning disability in an acute
setting is not particular to the trust involved in Julie’s death but a
national one;

7. Julie Taylor was ultimately diagnosed with the chicken pox virus.
The delayed diagnosis was due in part to the dermatology registrar
not recognising the rash as chicken pox. The inquest heard that
the reduction of chicken pox in the general population meant that
junior doctors were less likely to recognise the rash and there
could be a knock on delay in starting a person on anti-viral
medications. This could be detrimental to their health and the
eventual outcome as anti-virals were shown to have success in
reducing fatalities in adults who contract the virus. There was no
vaccination plan in place amongst the population with Downs
Syndrome although the inquest heard they were more likely
statistically to develop it;

8. The IT constraints meant that the acute trust could not access the

community trusts records. The community trust itself had not fully

digitsed meaning not all professionals could see each other's
notes. The community trust recognised the internal issue and was
taking steps to fully roll out an integrated system however
communication between trusts digitally was unlikely to improve
despite a recognition that it would be beneficial.

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 18" February 2020. 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

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following
Interested Persons namely; 1) Miss Taylor’s brother on behalf of the
family; 2) Stepping Hill Hospital; 3) Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust;
4) Derbyshire County Council; 5) Derbyshire Community Health Service
NHS Foundation Trust; 6) Moore Care, 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.

[\
Wy

7

Alison Mutch OBE
HM Senior Coroner
24.12.2019

Responses

2 responses 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 Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership (PDF)
GMCA nisseiere NHS
MANCHESTER:
COMBINED ‘
AUTHORITY _ in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership
4th Floor

3 Piccadilly Place

London Road

Manchester M1 3BN

T: 07825 675 823

17 February 2020
By post and email

Ms A Mutch OBE
HM Senior Coroner
Coroner's Court

1 Mount Tabor Street
Stockport

SK1 3AG

afterinquestrequests@stockport.gov.uk

18 FEB 2020

HM CORONER
MANCHESTER SOUTH

Dear Ms Mutch

Re: Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths — Julie Helen Taylor
23/09/18

Thank you for your Regulation 28 Report dated 24 December 2019 concerning the
death of Julie Helen Taylor on 23 September 2018. Firstly, | would like to express my
deep condolences to Julie Helen Taylor's family.

The regulation 28 report concludes Julie Helen Taylor's death was a result of 1a)
Pneumonitis; 1b) Varicella Zoster virus infection; ii) Downs Syndrome, poor
nutritional status.

Following the inquest you raised concerns in your Regulation 28 Report to NHS
England regarding 1) Clarification that all patients with a learning disability receive a
reasonable adjustment plan whilst they are in hospital, before formal admission; 2)
Formal best interest meetings being embedded in the Trust for people with learning
disabilities; 3) Training is in place for junior medical staff to recognise common
rashes like chicken pox; 4) Timely information sharing between care settings.

The points below address these four areas.

Greater Manchester Health and Scaciai Care Partnership is made up of all the NHS organisations and councils in the city region.

e're overseeing devolution and taking charge of the €6bn health and social care budget.

This response addresses matters in Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and how
learning will be disseminated across Greater Manchester.

You have also identified a number of areas regarding community care in Derbyshire.
As Derbyshire does not fall under the remit of the Greater Manchester Health and
Social Care Partnership we are unable to provide a response to those issues.

Actions taken or being taken by Stockport NHS FT.

1. Reasonable Adjustment Plans

All adult patients who are in-patients of the Trust must have in place a
Reasonable Adjustment Care Plan. As with core care plans the aim is that
these are commenced within the first 24 hours of admission, therefore for
many patients their care plan will be commenced on the Assessment Unit,
whether this is the medical or surgical unit.

The Aduit Safeguarding Team undertake audits of the Reasonable
Adjustment Care Plans. The Trust met the target in October 2019. The
Quarter 3 report is due to be presented to the Trust Safeguarding Group in
March 2020. Actions put in place to improve compliance with this are as
follows:

e There is already an electronic flagging system in place whereby senior
nurses receive an email advising that a patient with learning disabilities has
been admitted to their area, there is a visual icon on all plasma screens of
a Blue Butterfly that denotes that a patient has a learning disability

¢ To support this the adult safeguarding team send out a daily email to senior
nurses advising them of the patients in their areas with learning disabilities
and the actions required.

As a guide the below are the minimum standards the Trust expects for
patients who have a learning disability:

e That they have with them their Hospital Passport — completed by
community care staff or family members and brought in with the patient

e Areasonable adjustment care plan — completed by ward staff using
passport information

e Blue butterfly is displayed above their bed
e Cognitive Pain Assessment Tool is used if required
e That their carers/NOK are given a Carer's Passport

e That their capacity to consent to being in hospital for care and treatment is
considered-— if there are doubts about capacity complete a Mental Capacity

Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership is made up of all the NHS organisations and councils in the city region.

We're overseeing devolution and taking charge of the £@bn health and social care budget.

Assessment. Following the Mental Capacity Assessment complete a DoLS
application if relevant

¢ That their capacity to consent to treatment and care, assess capacity and
treat in best interests if indicated is considered — demonstrating this in
documentation and if required refer to IMCA service.

2. Formal Best Interest Meetings

The Trust launched guidelines for Best Interest Decisions and Best Interest
Meetings in October 2019.

These guidelines aim to assist and support staff in making decisions on behalf
of people aged 16 and over who do not have the mental capacity to make
their own decisions. It aims to provide a process and structure to making best
interest decisions and/or holding a best interest meeting and should be read

in conjunction with the Trust's Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty
Safeguards Policies.

The Trust plans to audit the use of Best Interest Meetings since the launch of
this guidance and this will take place during Q4 of 2019- 2020. The Trust is
also engaged in a multi-disciplinary audit of the use of the Mental Capacity
Act, commissioned by Stockport Safeguarding Adult Board.

3. Training for junior medical staff

Chicken pox is a relatively uncommon rash in adult patients, but remains
common in children. Chicken pox and the associated pneumonitis is included
in the syllabus for the part 1 physicians exams (MRCP part 1) and will be
covered in exam preparation. Most direct experience of chicken pox will be
seen in the emergency department and paediatrics.

The Trust expects its paediatric middle grade doctors to recognise common
rashes such as chicken pox. They will have seen chicken pox frequently
during their training and recognition is part of their competencies for the e-
portfolio for ST1-2. These medical grade doctors have teaching aimed at
common childhood illness on a weekly basis, delivered by a mix of the
registrars and consultants and which cover common rashes. All children have
a middle grade doctor review prior to discharge/on admission who have
competencies that include the recognition of common rashes.

In the emergency department the junior doctors weekly training programme
has a session run by the Clinical Director that teaches common childhood
illnesses and this includes the recognition of rashes.

4. Timely information sharing between care settings

It is recognised that effective communication beween the hospital and
community settings is pivotal in ensuring a seamless transition of care.
Consistent timely publication of the discharge summary within 48 hours of

Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnesship is made up of all the NHS organisations and councils in the city region.

We're overseeing devolution and taking charge of the €6bn health and social care budget,

hospital discharge has been a focus of the Trust over the last two years. They
have progressed from a less than 80% delivery rate, to 90% for January 2020.
The aim is to achieve better than the 95% standard they have set, and this
remains a regular area of focus in performance reviews.

Actions taken or being taken to prevent reoccurrence across Greater
Manchester.

1, Learning to be presented/shared with the Greater Manchester Quality Board.
This meeting is attended by commissioners, including commissioners of
specialist services, regulators, Healthwatch and NICE.

2. Learning to be shared with the Greater Manchester commissioners of
services to assure themselves of the quality of services they commission.

The Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership (GMHSCP) is
committed to improving outcomes for the population of Greater Manchester. In
conclusion key learning points and recommendations will be monitored to ensure
they are embedded within practice.

| hope this response provides the relevant assurances you require. Thank you for
bringing these important patient safety issues to my attention and please do not
hesitate to contact me should you need any further information.

Yours sincerely

Executive Lead for Quality and Medical Director

Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership is made up of all the NHS organisations and councils in the city region.

We're overseeing devolution and taking charge of the €6bn health and social care budget.
Response from The Department of Health and Social Care (PDF)
Your Ref: 11253/RD 
Our Ref: PFD-1199361 

Ms Alison Mutch OBE 
HM Senior Coroner, Manchester South 
HM Coroner's Court 
1 Mount Tabor Street 
Stockport SK1 3AG 

From Helen Whately MP 
Minister of State for Care 

39 Victoria Street 
London 
SW1H 0EU 

020 7210 4850 

28th April 2020 

Dear Ms Mutch

Thank you for your letter of 24 December 2019 to Matt Hancock about the death of Julie 
Taylor.  I am replying as Minister with portfolio responsibility for learning disabilities and I 
am grateful for the additional time in which to do so.  

Firstly, I would like to say how saddened I was to read of the circumstances of Ms Taylor’s 
death.  If you have the opportunity, please pass my most heartfelt condolences to her 
family and loved ones.  We must do all we can to take the learnings from Ms Taylor’s 
death to improve the quality of care for people with learning disabilities.  

I have been informed of the response of the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care 
Partnership to the local failings and concerns identified in your report.  I will not repeat the 
detail of that response.  However, I am pleased that the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust 
has provided assurance to you of the measures it has in place that are relevant to the 
matters of concern in your report.  This includes processes to identify and support patients 
with learning disabilities while in hospital; minimum standards that include the completion 
of reasonable adjustment care plans; and, consideration of needs in relation to mental 
capacity.  In addition, I am informed that the Trust has produced guidelines for staff to 
support Best Interests procedures and that these will be audited for compliance.   

It is important that learnings from the care provided to Ms Taylor are shared widely to 
improve the safety and quality of hospital services for people with learning disabilities and I 
am pleased that steps are to be taken to share these with NHS commissioners across 
Greater Manchester.  

We know that more can be done to improve the quality of care delivered to people with 
learning disabilities in the hospital care setting and I would like to provide assurance of the 
actions that are being taken nationally.  

 In June 2018, NHS Improvement published Learning Disability Improvement Standards for 
NHS trusts in England1.  The Standards are intended to help NHS trusts measure the 
quality of service they provide to people with learning disabilities, autism or both.  The four 
Standards concern respecting and protecting rights; inclusion and engagement; workforce; 
and, specialist learning disability services. 

In relation to respecting and protecting rights, NHS trusts must demonstrate that they have 
made reasonable adjustments to care pathways; have mechanisms in place to identify and 
flag patients who may require reasonable adjustments; and, measures to promote anti-
discriminatory practice in relation to people with learning disabilities, autism or both. 

The Standards require staff to be trained and then routinely updated in how to deliver care 
to people with learning disabilities, autism or both, in a way that takes account of their 
rights, needs and health vulnerabilities.  Guidance on implementing the Standards 
suggests that this should include ensuring staff have been trained in learning disability and 
autism awareness; health issues associated with learning disabilities and autism; 
supporting people with challenging needs; safeguarding; human rights and mental 
capacity and best interest’s assessments.  

Compliance with the Learning Disability Improvement Standards is part of the NHS 
Standard Contract for 2020/21, which is mandated by NHS England for use by 
commissioners for all healthcare services other than primary care.  While the Learning 
Disability Improvement Standards currently only apply to NHS Trusts and Foundation 
Trusts, the NHS Long-Term Plan outlines that this will apply to all NHS-funded care by 
2023/242.  

Adherence to the Learning Disability Improvement Standards will help NHS organisations 
meet the recommendations from the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) 
Programme.  The LeDeR programme, established in 2015, enables a detailed picture to 
be built of key improvements that are needed both locally and at a national level, to reduce 
the inequality in life expectancy between people with a learning disability, and those 
without.   

I am advised by NHS England and NHS Improvement that Ms Taylor’s death is currently 
being reviewed under the LeDeR process and I expect the local NHS to reflect on the 
findings of the review and take action to address any failings in the care provided locally 
for people with a learning disability.  I have also asked officials to bring your report to the 
attention of the National Director for Learning Disabilities, Ray James, who is leading work 
nationally to improve services for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.   

The most common learning points and recommendations arising from local LeDeR reviews 
relate to the need for inter-agency collaboration and communication, as well as greater 
awareness of the needs of people with learning disabilities.  In addition, local LeDeR 
reviews have demonstrated that health and social care staff do not always have the skills 
and knowledge to provide effective, compassionate and safe care to people with learning 

1 https://improvement.nhs.uk/resources/learning-disability-improvement-standards-nhs-trusts/ 

2 https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/ 

 disabilities.  For this reason, we consulted on the introduction of mandatory learning 
disability and autism training for health and care staff.   

On 5 November 2019, we published our response to the consultation3 and we are now 
working with Health Education England and Skills for Care to develop and test, a 
standardised training package, backed by £1.4million investment.  Work is underway to 
develop the training and testing will take place in a variety of health and social care 
settings to help shape how it will be rolled out and delivered in future.  Our plans to 
introduce mandatory training will go a long way to ensuring more people receive the safe, 
compassionate and informed care they have a right to expect. 

Both the second4 and the third5 annual LeDeR reports highlighted the importance of care 
co-ordination.  We have committed to publishing an evidence review of care co-ordination 
for people with learning disability, focused on health and wellbeing.  Once this work is 
complete, we will be better placed to understand how this can be used to inform how care 
co-ordination is delivered across the health and social care sector for people with a 
learning disability, particularly in relation to developing guidance. 

Your report explains that a best interests meeting was not held while Ms Taylor was an 
inpatient at Stepping Hill Hospital.  While a formal best interests meeting is not a duty, 
under section 4 of the Mental Capacity Act (2005)6 (MCA), the decision maker must take 
into account, if it is practicable and appropriate to consult them, the views of anyone 
named by the person as someone to be consulted; anyone engaged in caring for the 
person or interested in their welfare; and any person with lasting power of attorney or a 
deputy appointed by a court.   

The MCA Code of Practice7 recommends that staff involved in the care of a person who 
lacks capacity should make sure a record is kept of the best interest’s process, including 
how decisions are made.  Healthcare professionals should follow these guidelines and any 
procedures in place locally.  The Code of Practice is under review by the Ministry of 
Justice.  The revised Code will improve protections for the person at the centre of the 
authorisation and ensure that their wishes and feelings are considered.  

Your report raises a concern that IT constraints meant that Stockport NHS Foundation 
Trust could not access records kept by the local community NHS Trust. 

I am advised that Greater Manchester is in the first wave of implementation of the national 
Local Health and Care Record programme.  The primary focus of the Local Health and 
Care Record programme is to improve and coordinate care by capturing an individual's 

3 https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/learning-disability-and-autism-training-for-health-and-care-
staff 

4 http://www.bristol.ac.uk/sps/leder/news/2018/leder-annual-report-2016-2017.html 

5 http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2019/may/leder-report.html 

6 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/contents 

7 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/497253/Mental-
capacity-act-code-of-practice.pdf 

 interactions with the health and care system to ensure that any authorised health or care 
professional is able to access essential historical information (subject to compliance with 
information governance requirements), about the person to whom they are providing care, 
regardless of where that care was provided.  For example, this will ensure that for a patient 
transferring from an acute to a mental health setting, records relating to that patient are 
accessible to authorised health and care professionals.  Success of the programme is 
dependent on each care provider reaching sufficient levels of digitisation. 

Turning to the concerns in your report in relation to chicken pox, the inquest into Ms 
Taylor’s death heard evidence to suggest that cases of chickenpox have declined in the 
general population and that this contributed to the delay in diagnosing chicken-pox.  

I am advised that Public Health England (PHE) is not aware of data to support the view 
that cases of chicken-pox have declined.  As chicken-pox is not a notifiable disease, the 
main sources of data are primary care consultations and hospital admissions data.  There 
is data to suggest that there has been a reduction in cases seen in GP consultations over 
time but this may reflect changes in health seeking behaviour, with less parents taking 
their children to their GP for suspected chickenpox. 

Chapter 34 of the Green Book8, which contains information for health professionals on 
vaccines including eligibility, recommends the use of the chicken-pox vaccine as follows: 

“Varicella vaccine is not currently recommended for routine use in children. 
However, it is recommended for healthy susceptible contacts of 
immunocompromised patients where continuing close contact is unavoidable. Since 
2003, this recommendation includes vaccinating non-immune healthcare workers 
who themselves will derive benefit as they will be protected from contact with 
infectious patients.” 

There are a number of contraindicators for this vaccine, including immunocompromised 
children, pregnant women, and people that have had an allergic reaction either to a 
component of the vaccine (which contains gelatine and neomycin) or to the vaccine itself. 

In response to another Prevention of Future Deaths Report, the Varicella Zoster 
subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has 
previously considered whether there is an increased risk of serious varicella infection in 
children with Downs syndrome.  In his response to the Coroner, dated 22 August 2019, 
Prof Andy Pollard, Chair of the JCVI, said:  

“We (JCVI) considered therefore, whether there was evidence in children with 
Down’s Syndrome of either increased susceptibility or a major increase in the 
chance of a poor outcome from an episode of varicella beyond that in the infant 
population as a whole. We recognise that children with Down’s syndrome do suffer 
from infections, particularly those of the respiratory tract, more frequently than those 
without the condition and there is an associated immunosuppression, although the 
degree and type of immunosuppression appears to be variable. The varicella 
vaccine currently available in the UK contains a live antigen and its use is 

8 The Green Book has the latest information on vaccines and vaccination procedures, for vaccine preventable infectious 
diseases in the UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/varicella-the-green-book-chapter-34 

 contraindicated for people with some types of immunosuppression. Therefore, 
contacts of susceptible individuals are immunised, rather than the patient 
themselves.” 

“On examination of the current data available to us, we can conclude that there is 
an absence of evidence for either increased susceptibility or an increased chance of 
poor outcome from varicella infection in Down’s syndrome and further research is 
required.” 

I hope this explanation is helpful.  Thank you for bringing these concerns to my attention. 

HELEN WHATELY

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