Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2020

Rory Attwood

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2021-0086, written 10 Dec 2020. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report10 Dec 2020
Reference2021-0086
DeceasedRory Attwood
CoronerCaroline Saunders
Coroner areaGwent
CategoryMental Health related deaths · Alcohol, drug and medication related deaths · Community health care · Suicide (from 2015) · Wales prevention of future deaths reports (2019 onwards)
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1. (cid:9) Chief Executive, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board 

1 

CORONER 

I am Caroline Saunders, Senior Coroner for the Area of Gwent 

CORONER'S LEGAL POWERS 

2 

3 

1 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 11 /10/2018 an investigation was opened into the death of 
Rory Karl Attwood DOB 28/6/96 

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on: 3/11/2020 

The conclusion of the inquest was recorded as:  Suicide 

The medical cause of death was: 

1a) Acute Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA) Toxicity 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Rory Attwood had a history of mental health problems. On 27 July 2018 Rory 

jumped from Union Street bridge in Newport, South Wales and injured his 

legs. He underwent a psychiatric assessment at which time he denied any 

suicidal attempt and that he had slipped when drunk. A further assessment 

revealed that whilst Rory had no obvious immediate suicidal intent, of concern 

was the fact that he showed no remorse for his actions. 

On 3111  August Rory discharged himself from hospital. He underwent a social 

care assessment at which time it was confirmed that Rory needed to he re-

homes but there was no further involvement in Rory's care from the adult 

Disability team. Furthermore Rory was not followed up by community mental 

health teams. 

 It is obvious that Rory was vulnerable and yet there was no statutory 

monitoring arranged because he did not fall squarely into a box of social, 

physical or mental health. 

Rory continued to ruminate over ending his life. 

At about 5am on 9/10/18. Rory's father entered his son's bedroom and 

discovered that Rory had died. Emergency services were called but Rory could 

not be revived and the paramedics confirmed his death at 05:25 hours. 

A post mortem examination concluded that Rory had suffered an acute cardiac 

event and that Rory had in his blood 

f MDMA normally 

consumed for recreational purposes. In the absence of any underlying cardiac 

pathology the pathologist's opinion was that the cardiac death has on balance 

been caused by the consumption of an excessive quantity of MDMA. 

Following the inquest an internal investigation was undertaken, by Aneurin 

Bevan University Health Board and recommendations were made in relation to 

more cohesive working practices between partner agencies. 

At the inquest Rory's General Practitioner, Dr 

gave evidence. He 

was asked about how practices had changed since Rory's death. Dr 

admitted that General Practitioners rarely (and he has never been) invited to 

participate in a Serious Untoward Incident Review when a community patient 

has died. 

5 

CORONER'S CONCERNS 

During the course of the inquest, 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 purpose of undertaking a Serious Untoward Incident Investigation, is to identify 
necessary organisational changes which can improve the outcomes for patients and 
hopefully prevent future deaths. Rory had been discharged from acute services and 
was under the care of his General Practitioner. In keeping with many people he had 
been involved with different arms of ABUHB (primary, acute and psychiatric) He had 
been involved with social services. 

After his death the charity MIND wrote to me and expressed concerns that Rory had 
fallen between gaps in services. This was addressed in the internal investigation 
undertaken by ABUHB, however it is surprising that his GP was not involved in this 
review and Dr
investigations. 

e told me that GPs are rarely asked to participate in these 

In order that lessons can be learned and opportunities identified for better 
partnership working around patients, it would seem appropriate that the patient's 

(cid:9)
 primary care contact (especially when being supervised in the community) be 
involved in internal /serious incident reviews. 

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

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

the power to take such action. 

I should be grateful if the following information be provided to me: 

Confirm whether it is your intention to review the current process of serious incident 
investigation and ensure that General Practitioners (and indeed any other relevant 
third party agencies) are to be routinely involved in serious incident reviews in the 
future. 

7 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this 
report, namely 6th  February, 2021, I, the Coroner, may extend this 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 necessary 

8 

COPIES AND PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and the following Interested 
Person (s) 

•  The father of Mr Rory Attwood 

•  The mother of Mr Rory Attwood 

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 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 

DATE 10/12/2020 

Signed 

Cj 

Caroline Saunders 

Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for the Area of Gwent.

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 Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (PDF)
GIG
NHS

Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol
Aneurin Bevan
University Health Board

y

Our ref: P| Direct une 4 February 2021

Ms Caroline Saunders

HM Senior Coroner for Gwent
Room 204W

The Civic Centre

Godfrey Road

Newport

NP20 4UR

Dear Ms Saunders

Re: Regulation 28 Report received by Aneurin Bevan University Health
Board further to the inquest touching on the death of Rory Attwood.

Thank you for your report dated 10 December 2020, which was received by
the Health Board on 15 December 2020.

Further to your report, I am pleased to inform you that the Aneurin Bevan
University Health Board has reviewed its practices with regard to GP
involvement in Serious Incident Reviews.

Furthermore, the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Division has devised a
process and pro forma to aid the timely sharing of pertinent information, and
to ensure that GPs are routinely invited to participate in reviews of Serious
Incidents. Copies of both documents are enclosed for your information. Whilst
I must highlight that only a small number of GP Surgeries within the Gwent
area are managed by the Health Board and the vast majority are managed
independently, it is hoped that this process will enable the Health Board to
engage with both managed and non-managed GP surgeries when conducting
Serious Incident Reviews.

The Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Division is reviewing its processes
to ensure that involvement of third sector and other organisations is recorded
sooner, thus ensuring that such organisations are also invited to participate
when they have been involved in a person’s care. This invitation will be sent in
letter format as opposed to the pro forma format described above.

Pencadlys

Headquarters
Ysbyty Sant Cadog St Cadoc’s Hospital
Ffordd Y Lodj Lodge Road
Caerllion Caerleon
Casnewydd Newport

De Cymru NP1i8 3XQ

th Wal 1
Fén: 01633 234234 South Wales NP18 3xQ

Te! No: 01633 234234

Bwrdd lechyd Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan yw enw gweithredo!l Bwrdd lechyd Lleol Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is the operational name of Aneurin Bevan University Local Health Board

I trust that this information addresses the concerns raised in your report,
however please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further
information.

Yours sincerely

Chief Executive/ Prif Weithredwr

MENTAL HEALTH & LEARNING DISABILITIES DIVISION
NOTIFICATION TO GP OF AN SUI REVIEW IN THE DIVISIO

HE ead of Quality & improvement
QPS Department, MH & LD Division

Divisional Office

St Cadoc’s Hospital

Lodge Road, Caerleon, Newport. NP18 3XQ.

_——————

GP address

=

Dear Dr xxxxx

We have been notified recently of the death of a patient known to your practice. As an unexpected
death, this meets the criteria for a Serious Untoward Incident within the Division and thus the Division
will be reviewing this patient’s care from the Mental Health/ Learning Disability service. | would be

grateful if you would kindly return this form to the above email address at your earliest convenience,
answering the following:

a) | attach pertinent information with regard to recent (last 6 months) Primary Care 7
. Tick to
involvement indicate
attached
b) | would like to be included in the review of this patient’s care Yes No
oO Oo
Many thanks

P| Head of Quality & Improvement

INCIDENT REFERENCE NO. | iy

~ DETAILS OF PERSON

Date of Birth

Address

MH SERVICE INFORMATION

Team

Consultant (if applicable)

Last Contact

OVERVIEW OF THE INCIDENT

Date and time of incident

Location of incident

Brief Summary of incident

Suspected Cause of Death (If
known)

MENTAL HEALTH & LEARNING DISABILITIES DIVISION

PROCESS FOR NOTIFYING AND INCLUDING GP IN SERIOUS
UNTOWARD INCIDENT REVIEWS IN THE DIVISION

Following a recent Coroner’s Inquest into the death of aman who had previously been known to the
Mental Health service, HM Senior Coroner wrote the Health Board on 10 December 2020 enclosing a
Regulation 28 report. HM Coroner asks the Health Board whether it intends “to review the current
process of serious incident in vestigation and ensure that General Practitioners (and indeed any other
relevant third party agencies) are to be to be routinely involved in serious incident reviews in the
future’.

Background

Within the MH & LD Division, the following incidents will trigger notification to Welsh Government/
Delivery Unit

© Unexpected death or suspected suicide of any patient
a) open to the secondary care mental health service
b) open to the secondary care mental health service in the previous 12 months
to include
© Current in-patient (informal)
© Current in-patient (detained)
© Current patient of CRHTT
© Unexpected death within 14 days of discharge from MH ward
‘Expected’ deaths if the patient is detained to a MH ward
° Unexpected death or suspected suicide of any patient known to PCMHSS, GSSMS, Learning
Disability Service or Secondary Care Mental Health Service within the last 12 months
© Suspected homicide Perpetrated by a patient open to a secondary care MH service
e Any incident that staff or relatives identify as potentially having been contributed to
by act or omission on behalf of the Health Board

For most incidents, a concise review is completed by the team, collating the details of the person
and the incident, and providing a chronology of events. This is then reviewed by a group of senior
clinical staff from within the Division and the wider Health Board (e.g. Safeguarding, Legal Services
etc) and decision made as to whether a Reviewing Officer should be appointed to complete a
comprehensive review.

The Division does not currently routinely request information or involvement from GP unless the
terms of reference for review include this and/or the GP has been very much involved in the care.

Where other agencies have been involved, such as the Local Authority Social Services and/or third
sector/ independent providers, the Reviewing Officer would make contact with these organisations

[ Recommendations

1. The MH & LD Division will use a pro forma to notify the GP of an unexpected death ofa
patient in the Division. This will be sent by email from the Division’s.Quality and Patient
Safety (QPS) department to the GP Practice.

2. The Pro Forma gives the patient details and a summary of the incident, and requests a brief
copy of recent/ salient information from the GP. It also asks the GP to confirm whether they
would like to be involved in the review.

3. The GP Practice then emails this pro forma back to the Division’s QPS department.

It is suggested that this process is tried for 6 months; following which, the MH & LD Division will
liaise with the Primary Care and Community Division to review the process and take forward any
suggested amendments.

Head of Quality & Improvement
MH & LD Division
1.2.21

For review August 2021

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