Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2022

Marvin Rue

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2022-0065, written 3 Mar 2022. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report3 Mar 2022
Reference2022-0065
DeceasedMarvin Rue
CoronerCaroline Saunders
Coroner areaGwent
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths · Wales prevention of future deaths reports (2019 onwards)
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.

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

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

REGULATION 28 REPORTTO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1.  The Chief Executive of 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 10/2/21an investigation was opened into the death of Marvin John RUE 

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on: 24/2/22 

The conclusion of the inquest was recorded as: 

A narrative conclusion in the following terms: 

Marvin Rue was admitted to hospital on 8th January 2021. He was confused and 
suffering from type 2 respiratory failure. Mr Rue fell prior to admission to hospital, and 
he fell 5 times in hospital but there was a failure to undertake a comprehensive or 
correct assessment of his falls'risk. As a result there was a failure to provide Mr Rue 
with the correct level of supervision. On 2nd February 2021 Marvin Rue fell again and 
suffered a fatal head injury which resulted in his death on 3rd February 2021 at the 
Grange University hospital. 

Marvin Rue's death was caused by an accident contributed to by neglect. 

The medical cause of death was: 

1a 

b 

c 

Right-sided subdural haematoma with midline shift 

Occipital bone fracture 

Fall 

	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

The circumstances of Marvin Rue's death are set out in the narrative at 

Paragraph 3. 

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: -

Marvin Rue had fallen prior to his admission to hospital on 8` January 2021 

and was therefore, due to his age and circumstances, a "known falls risk". In 

evidence I heard that in these circumstances a Multifactorial Risk Assessment 

(MFRA) should take place within 6 hours of admission to hospital. It was not. 

Mr Rue was transferred between hospitals during his admission, initially to 

Nevill Hall Hospital and then to Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan. I heard in evidence that 

a review of the MRFA should take place after every hospital transfer. Mr Rue 

had no MFRA undertaken after his transfers. 

Mr Rue fell 5 times priorto his fatal fall in hospital on 2nd February 2021. 

Contrary to Health Board Policy, Mr Rue did not have an MFRA undertaken 

after any of these falls. In fact there was never an MFRA correctly completed 

for Mr Rue throughout his hospital admission. 

I heard evidence that during this time the staff were under significant pressure 

due to the effects of the pandemic, and I accept that. However the care that 

Mr Rue was denied was basic nursing care. 

 the Lead Nurse and 

author of the Serious Concerns Report, indicated that had Mr Rue been 

assessed, he would have warranted 1:1 supervision . As a result I concluded 

that the failures in care directly contributed to Mr Rue's death. 

During the inquest I was presented with an action plan, however this is not the 

first action plan I have been presented with (in very similar circumstances) and 

sadly I am not convinced that this plan will prevent future deaths for the 

following reasons. The policies referred to above have been in place for several 

years. I am informed that although there is bespoke documentation training, 

all staff are trained in falls risk assessment from the time they are in nurse 

training. Therefore it is not a lack of understanding or policies which have 
caused these failures. 

None of the staff were interviewed during the internal investigation and no 
evidence was forthcoming as to why staff did not follow the procedures. 

Without this information I do not consider that the actions plan will prevent 

	
	
 future deaths. I refer you to your previous responses to PFDs which have 

clearly not had the desired outcome. 

Despite being previously reassured that regular ward audits would take place 

to ensure that the risk assessments were being undertaken I heard no 

evidence that audits were completed at this time and so the failures went 

unnoticed until after Mr Rue's death. 

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: 

1.  The action that will be taken to address the reason why staff are failing to 

follow the policies as indicated by their training. 

2.  Reassurance that Senior Management within the Health Board is fully aware 

of the risks posed to patients through regular monitoring of adherence to the 
Falls Policy. 

3.  A revised action plan which takes points (1) and (2) into account. 

7 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this 
report, namely 28 April 2022.  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 family of Marvin Rue 
Health Inspectorate Wales. 

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 3 March 2022 

Signed 

elu~-O G— -A 

Caroline Saunders 

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

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