Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2021

Khadija Ahmed

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2021-0410, written 2 Dec 2021. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report2 Dec 2021
Reference2021-0410
DeceasedKhadija Ahmed
CoronerMary Hassell
Coroner areaInner North London
CategoryOther related deaths
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:  Prevention of Future Deaths report 

Alaynah Khadija AHMED (died 08.07.21) 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1.

Principal
Swiss Cottage Special School
80 Avenue Road
London NW8 6HX

1  CORONER 

I am:   Coroner ME Hassell 
 Senior Coroner  
 Inner North London 
 St Pancras Coroner’s Court 
 Camley Street 
 London N1C 4PP 

2  CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

I make this report under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, 
paragraph 7, Schedule 5, and  
The Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013, 
regulations 28 and 29. 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

On  9  July  2021,  one  of  my  assistant  coroners,  Richard  Brittain, 
commenced an investigation into the death of  Khadija Ahmed, aged 6 
years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest yesterday. I 
made a determination at inquest that death arose from natural causes. 

The medical cause of death I recorded as follows. 
1a  hypoxic brain injury 
1b  out of hospital cardiac arrest secondary to mucous plugging 
1c  spinal muscular atrophy type 1 

4  CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Khadija suffered a cardiac arrest whilst at school on 1 July 2021.   
This caused a hypoxic brain injury from which she died a week later. 

1 

 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 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.  

I heard that the teaching assistant looking after Khadija was not trained 
by the school in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and that, when Khadija 
became unresponsive, CPR was not attempted by any staff member.  It 
is highly unlikely that CPR would have changed the outcome for Khadija.  
The cause of her cardiac arrest was an airway compromised by mucous 
plugging, that even a highly trained paramedic crew was unable to clear.  
However, CPR might make a difference for another child, or even for a 
staff member. 

To put the lack of CPR in context, the care that Khadija received from 
the school before the arrest seemed to be of a very high standard, even 
drawing  comment  from  a  paediatric  intensive  care  consultant  giving 
evidence  at  inquest.    He  told  me  that  many  nurses  at  Great  Ormond 
Street Hospital would not have been able to administer the treatment that 
Khadija’s  teaching  assistant  did  on  1  July  2021.    She  was  quick  to 
recognise that something was wrong and quick to act appropriately. 

However, it seems to me that the school would benefit from consideration 
being given to frequent CPR training. 

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In  my  opinion,  action  should  be  taken  to  prevent  future  deaths  and  I 
believe that you 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 31 January 2021.  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 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I have sent a copy of my report to the following. 

, teaching assistant, Swiss Cottage School 

• 
• 
•  Medical Director, Royal Free Hospital 
•  Chief Executive, London Ambulance Service 
•  Medical Director, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children  
•  HHJ Thomas Teague QC, the Chief Coroner of England & Wales 

, Khadija’s parents 

I  am  also  under  a  duty  to  send  a  copy  of  your  response  to  the  Chief 
Coroner and all interested persons who in my opinion should receive it.  
I  may  also  send  a  copy  of  your  response  to  any  other  person  who  I 
believe may find it useful or of interest.  

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. 

9 

DATE                                                  SIGNED BY SENIOR CORONER 

02.12.21                                              ME Hassell 

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 Swiss Cottage School (PDF)
TO: Coroner ME Hassell, Inner North London, St Pancras Coroner’s Court, Camley St N1C 4PP 
FROM: 
RE: PFD # (003) AKA  

, Principal Swiss Cottage School, DRC 

11th January 2022 

Dear Senior Coroner ME Hassell, 

Thank you for providing us with the Regulation 28: Prevention of Future Deaths Report for 
AKA, dated 2nd December 2021 and received via email on 7th December 2021. Within the 
report you outline a recommendation for the school to organise regular CPR training and 
requested an update by 31.1.22. 

I am writing to confirm that the school is completing this recommendation on 12th January, 
14th January, and within our annual training cycle.  

-Basic Life Support with CPR training is organised for 70 members of staff.  
-The 70 staff are timetabled to every class across our school.  
-The training is taking place on 12th January and 14th January 2022.  
-The provider of the training is: 

 Resuscitation Officer 

Resuscitation Services  
Level 4 Nurses Home 
Great Ormond Street  
London WC1N 3JH 

This is alongside the safeguarding and health training that is on an annual cycle.  

Thank you for the report and please let us know if you require any further information. 

Kind Regards, 

Principal 

CC: 
Authority 

, Head of SEN and Inclusive Intervention Services for Camden Local 

80 Avenue Road NW8 6HX 

www.swisscottage.camden.sch.uk

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