Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2019

George Rogers

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2019-0484, written 27 Nov 2019. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report27 Nov 2019
Reference2019-0484
DeceasedGeorge Rogers
CoronerJoanne Andrews
Coroner areaWest Sussex
CategorySuicide (from 2015)
Organisation namedSussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

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)

ANNEX A

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1)

NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

1. The Chief Executive Sussex Partnership NHS Trust

1

CORONER

I am Joanne Andrews, assistant coroner, for the coroner area of West Sussex.

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 11 September 2018 I commenced an investigation into the death of George Edward
Rogers, 30. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 11 November 2019. The
conclusion of the inquest was that Mr Rogers died as a result of an intentional act by him take
his own life by causing a fatal laceration to his chest. I therefore gave a conclusion of suicide.

4

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

1. Mr Rogers had a diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder. He was previously treated
for the condition and recovered. He was resident in Australia in 2017 when he started
to become unwell again with BDD and returned to the UK in February 2018.

2. On his return to the UK Mr Rogers’ parents took him to his GP who referred Mr

Rogers to the Acute Treatment Service (ATS).

3. Before that referral could take effect Mr Rogers attempted to take his own life by
causing a laceration to his chest which resulted in an admission to Southampton
General Hospital. This was a life threatening injury.

4. On discharge from Southampton General Hospital on 23 February 2018 Mr Rogers
the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team

was placed under the care of
(CRHTT).

5. Mr Rogers was treated by the CRHTT until he was transferred to the care of the ATS
on 9 April 2018. On transfer between CHRTT and ATS Mr Rogers was not appointed
a Lead Practitioner to coordinate his care.

6. Mr Rogers was assessed by ATS on 11 April 2018. Mr Rogers heard nothing more
from ATS until 23 April 2018 following his family’s intervention having heard nothing. A
Lead Practitioner was appointed on 23 April 2018. Mr Rogers was not receiving
treatment or being seen by ATS between 11 April 2018 and 14 May 2018 and had no
treatment or ongoing assessment of risk during this period.
It was accepted in
evidence by Sussex Partnership NHS Trust that the lack of appointment of a Lead
Practitioner for Mr Rogers resulted in delay in his treatment.

7. Mr Rogers received treatment from ATS up until his death on 28 August 2018.

 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 could 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. When transferring patients between the CHRTT and ATS there is not always a Lead
Practitioner appointed on transfer which may (a) delay patients receiving treatment
and (b) mean that patients may not be monitored pending the appointment.

6

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and 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 10 January 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 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

.

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

Joanne ANDREWS
Assistant Coroner for
West Sussex Coroner's Service
Dated: 21/11/2019

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 Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (PDF)
A member of: 
Association  of UK University Hospitals 

Ms J Andrews 
Assistant Cornoer 
Coroner's Office 
Centenary House 
Durrington Lane 
Worthing 
BN13 2PQ 

Dear Ms Andrews 

Sussex Partnership 
Trust 

NHS 

Swandean 
Arundel  Road 
Worthing
West Sussex 
BN13 3EP 

Re.  Inquest into the death of George Edward ROGERS 

I write further to the inquest of George Edward  Rogers which  concluded on  11.11.2019 
and the Regulation 28 Report to  Prevent Future  Deaths. 

The Report concern  is  as follows: 

1. 

When transferring  patients between the CRHTT (Crisis Resolution and  Home 
Treatment Team) and the ATS (Assessment and Treatment Service) there is  not 
always a Lead  Practitioner appointed on transfer which  may (a) delay patients 
receiving treatment and  (b)  mean that patient may not be  monitored pending 
appointment. 

I will address both  points  raised  in turn,  as follows: 

(a) Allocation  of a Lead  Practitioner of patients transferred from  the CRHTT and 

ATS 

The process for allocation of a Lead  Practitioner is as follows;  the CRHTT attends the 
weekly Multi-Professional ATS meeting (ATS - sometimes referred to as a Community 
Mental Health Team) to  provide an  update on  each case and to request allocation,  if 
needed,  of a Lead  Practitioner. 

If the patient is  already known to the team,·the Lead  Practitioner (ATS) will  remain  involved 
and  work with the CRHTT throughout the episode of care.  If the person  is  unknown to the 
ATS,  the CRHTT and ATS will work together to  plan  onward care and support.  Where a 
Lead  Practitioner cannot be provided  immediately by the ATS,  an  initial appointment will 
be offered within 7 days of transfer from the CRHTT and follow-up plans will  be agreed. 
This may include care and  support being offered  by the ATS Duty Worker (a senior 
registered  professional) who the patient will  be able to contact for support. This support 
includes face to face contact on the same day if necessary and  attendance at the ATS  if 

Head office:  Sussex Partnership NHS  Foundation Trust,  Swandean, Arundel  Road, Worthing, West Sussex,  BN13 3EP 

www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk 

A teaching trust of Brighton and Sussex Medical School 

 
 
 required.  In this instance, the patient and the GP are sent a letter informing them  of this 
plan  of care which  includes any contact details if there are any concerns. 

Any patient not allocated  a Lead  Practitioner is  monitored by the Team  Leader on  a weekly 
basis. 

The SPFT Serious Incident report notes that a delay occurred  in  the allocation of a Lead 
Practitioner,  over a two week period,  in April 2018 when  Mr Rogers was being transferred 
between the CRHTT and ATS. As a result of this a new process has been introduced as 
described above resulting  in  a 95%  reduction  in  unallocated patients at the point of 
transfer between teams. 

I hope that the content of this letter and  its enclosures addresses your concerns and 
provides you with  assurance that there is  no delay in  a patient receiving  access to 
treatment on  transfer between  CRHTT and the ATS,  that there is a process in  place to 
monitor patients who have been transferred and  are receiving  support with the Duty 
Worker whilst a Lead  Practitioner is  identified.  However,  if any further clarification  is 
required  or I can  assist further in  any way then please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Yours sincerely 

Chief Executive

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