Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2020

Linda Phillipson

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2020-0172, written 8 Sep 2020. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report8 Sep 2020
Reference2020-0172
DeceasedLinda Phillipson
CoronerVeronica Hamilton-Deeley
Coroner areaBrighton and Hove
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedWestern Sussex Hospitals 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.

VERONICA  HAMI LT ON -DEELEY  DL, 
LLB. 
Her Majesty ' s Seni or Coroner 
for the C ity of Brighton & Hove 

TH E  CORON ER 'S OFFI CE 
WOODY ALE,  LEW ES  ROAD 
BRI GHTON 
BN23QB 

Telephone:  Brighton (01273)  292046 
Fax:  Brighton (01273)  292047 

CORONERS SOCIETY OF  ENGLAND AND  WALES 

ANNEX A 

REGULATION  28:  REPORT TO  PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS  (1) 

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

THIS  REPORT IS  BEING  SENT TO: 

1.  Dame 
Trust 

2.  Mr -
3.  Mr. 

CORONER 

Chief Executive, Western  Sussex Hospital 

- Chief of Service, Western Sussex Hospital Trust 

Trauma &  Orthopaedic Surgeon 

I am Veronica  HAMIL TON-DEELEY,  Senior Coroner,  for the  City  of Brighton and 
Hove 

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. 

INVESTIGATION and  INQUEST 

On 1ih December 2019  I commenced  an  investigation into the death of Linda  Ann 
PHILLIPSON The  investigation concluded at the end of the  inquest on  2nd 
September 2020.The  conclusion  of the  inquest was 

MEDICAL MISADVENTURE  BEING  MAJOR PULMONARY EMBOLISM  DURING 
SURGERY FOR A COMPLICATED TIBIAL FRACTURE ON  A BACKGROUND 
OF  UNNECESSARY DELAYED EXTERNAL FIXATOR AND  SUBOPTIMAL CARE 
BOTH  LEADING TO  INCREASED IMMOBILITY BEFORE TRANSFER TO  THE 
SOUTH  EAST TRAUMA CENTRE 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF  THE  DEATH 
See  Record  of Inquest 

CORONER'S CONCERNS 

During the  course of the  inquest the evidence revealed matters 

rise to 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

 
 VERON IC A  HA M ILT ON-DEELEY  DL, 
LL.B. 
Her Maj esty ' s Senior Coroner 
for the City of Brighton &  Hove 

THE CO RON ER ' S OFFICE 
WOODVA LE, LEWES ROA D 
BRIG HTON 
BN23 QB 

Tel ephone:  Brighton (01273)  292046 
Fax:  Brighton (01273)  292047 

6 

7 

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:  -
(1)  The delay in  applying the external fixator 
(2)  The apparent failure to  mobilize the patient 

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 . 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You  are  under a duty to  respond  to  this  report within 56  days of the date of this 
report, namely by 26th  November 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 

1.Mr. -
2 .  Brig~ 
3.  Secretary of State for Health,  Department of Health 
4.  Simon Stevens,  Chief Executive,  NHS England 

niversity Hospital Trust 

I have also sent it to :-

1.  Dr 
2.  Mr. 
3.  Mr. 

CCG 

, Head of Quality and  Nursing  CCG 

- Chief Executive CQC 

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. 

2 

 VERONICA HAMIL TON-DEELEY DL, 
LL.B. 
Her Majesty's Senior Coroner 
for the Ci ty  of Brighton &  Hove 

THE CORONER'S OFFICE 
WOODY ALE, LEWES ROAD 
BRIGHTON 
BN23QB 

Telephone : Brighton (01273)  292046 
Fax:  Brighton (01273)  292047 

9 

Date:  8th 

September 2020  SIGNED  BY: 

·•

. 

v· ,~(lUl,M/(tY\v ~-JJ_,~,fr:~i 

Senior Coroner Brighto~ 

3

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 Western Sussex Hospital Trust (PDF)
INHS|

Western Sussex Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust

Worthing Hospital
Lyndhurst Road, Worthing
West Sussex; BN11 2DH
Tel: 01903 205111

www.westernsussexhospitals.nhs.uk
20" November 2020

Mrs Veronica Hamilton-Deeley
Senior Coroner for Brighton & Hove
Coroner’s Office

Woodvale

Lewes Road

Brighton BN2 3 QB

Dear Mrs Veronica Hamilton-Deeley

Re: Regulation 28 Report ~ Mrs Linda Phillipson

Thank you for your letter dated 8" September 2019 which included a formal copy of the Regulation 28 report
to Prevent Future Deaths.

The Trust welcomes the opportunity to review the way that patients who sustain trauma are managed. As part
of this process, the PFD report has been shared with the Trauma and Orthopaedic Consultants, Radiologists,
Physiotherapists, ward nurses and through teaching with the junior doctors on both sites of the Trust. It has
also been discussed at the Trust Trauma and Orthopaedic Clinical Governance meeting and a further thorough
RCA been conducted which will be shared with Mrs Linda Phillipson’s family and Sussex Traurna Network
Consultants.

We can confirm that a Trust Surgical Board ratified Transfer Policy has been put in place between Brighton &
Sussex University Hospitals and Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust hospitals for the management
of complex trauma patients who need specialist surgery at the Major Trauma Centre. The immediate
management of major trauma in Western Sussex Hospitals whilst awaiting transfer is included within the
transfer protocol. The application of spanning external fixator for all Peri-articular complex fractures, elevation
and early mobilisation with physiotherapists has been also included within the protocol to prevent any further
similar occurrence. Further to this, there are also plans for regular Educational and Clinical Governance
meetings between Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals, Eastern Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust and Western
Sussex Hospitals for complex trauma management beginning from January 2021.

Mrs Phillipson’s CT scan findings were also discussed at Radiology Events and Learning meetings (REALM,
formerly discrepancy meeting) to all radiologists in the department and the learning from this shared.

The Trust was saddened by Mrs Linda Phillipson’s death and would like to give our reassurance that the Trust
has taken the opportunity to review our current practice to ensure we manage patients who have sustained
major trauma in the most safe and effective way.

Yours tours Sinus

Mone Director

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