Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2020

Siân Hewitt

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2020-0208, written 21 Oct 2020. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report21 Oct 2020
Reference2020-0208
DeceasedSiân Hewitt
CoronerTom Osborne
Coroner areaMilton Keynes
CategoryCommunity health care · Mental Health related deaths
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: 
The chief executive of NHS England.  NHS England, PO Box 16738, Redditch, B97 9PT 

1  CORONER 

I am Tom OSBORNE, Senior Coroner for the area of Milton Keynes 

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 11/04/2019  I commenced an investigation into the death of Siân Frances HEWITT aged 25. 
The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 05 March 2020.  The conclusion of the 
inquest was: 

I a Massive Pulmonary Thromboembolism 

I b 

I c 

II 

4  CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

On admission to the Campbell Centre Milton Keynes on the 13th March and during the period of 
her admission 2019 there was a failure to carry out a VTE risk assessment this was in breach of 
the CNWL protocol. There was no plan put in place for adequately maintaining and monitoring her 
fluid intake There was a delay in administering intra-muscular Aripiprazole that resulted in her 
mania not being brought under control. There was a lack of close ongoing review of her care by a 
consultant psychiatrist. When Sian failed to respond to her treatment there was a failure to escalate 
her care and involve more senior members of the care team. There were multiple opportunities to 
realise that Sian had become unwell on 6th April 2019 that were missed and therefore here was a 
failure to start effective CPR 

My narrative conclusion at the End of the inquest was: 

Sian Hewitt died, on 6th April 2019 at Milton Keynes University Hospital where she was taken after 
collapsing on Willow Ward at the Campbell Centre, there was a failure to recognise how seriously ill 
she had become and this resulted in lost opportunities to treat her appropriately that may have 
prevented her death. There was a failure to appropriately treat her to control her mania and a 
failure to assess, recognise or treat the risks of her developing a pulmonary embolism and these 
failure’s may have caused or contributed to her death. 

5  CORONER’S CONCERNS 

 The MATTERS OF CONCERNS are as follows: 

It would appear from the circumstances of Ms Hewitt‘s death that the NHS are unable to provide a 
place of safety for those who are suffering from Asperger’s syndrome, or indeed other forms of 
autism, when they are also suffering additional mental health problems such as bipolar. The 
Campbell Centre in Milton Keynes was not an appropriate placement and I believe this matter 
should be looked at by NHS England and for more appropriate provision to be made for such 
patients. 

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 16 October 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; 
The Family of Miss Hewitt 
Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust 
Milton Keynes University Hospital 

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 

Tom OSBORNE 
Senior Coroner for 
Milton Keynes
Dated: 21 August 2020

Related reports

Other reports by Tom Osborne

See all →

More reports categorised “Community health care”

See all →

Track Community health care

See every Prevention of Future Deaths report matching Community health care, and how often a new one appears.

What would an alert for this have sent me? Search the full text

Free to try — the preview shows the real matches and how many arrived in the last 12 months. Your first email alert is free.

These reports are published by the Chief Coroner's office at judiciary.uk and are © Crown copyright. The text here is reproduced from the published PDF so it can be searched. If something on this page is wrong, or you are a person named in it and want it reviewed, email drcjar@gmail.com and we will act promptly.