Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2022

Raymond Gillespie

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2022-0154, written 25 May 2022. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report25 May 2022
Reference2022-0154
DeceasedRaymond Gillespie
CoronerKate Sutherland
Coroner areaNorth Wales (East & Central)
CategoryEmergency services related deaths (2019 onwards) · Wales prevention of future deaths reports (2019 onwards)
Organisation namedWelsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust
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 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

Welsh Ambulance NHS Trust  
Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board 

1 

CORONER 

I am Kate Sutherland, Assistant Coroner, for North Wales (East & Central). 

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 4.11.22, an investigation was commenced into the death of Raymond Gillespie. 

The investigation concluded at the end of an Inquest on 24 May 2022. The conclusion 
of the inquest was :- 

 Natural causes contributed to by a fall 

The medical cause of death was 1a. frailty of old age, dementia, chronic kidney disease 
2. Acute on chronic kidney disease, fractured neck of right femur (non-operated)

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

These were recorded as :- 

Raymond Gillespie was a care home resident suffering from a number of 
comorbidities. On 8 October 2021 he suffered an unwitnessed fall. Welsh Ambulance 
Service Trust (WAST) were contacted at 21.59 due to hip pain and potential fracture. 
An initial response of 6 hours was provided for response (health care professional 
category, extended from 4 due to resource issues). Several welfare checks were 
conducted throughout the night by WAST. The following day at 11.40 a further 999 
call was made by the care home as there was still no WAST attendance. At 12.57 a 
paramedic arrived, some 14 hours and 58 minutes following the initial call. 

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.  – 

1 

 (1)  The first cause of the delay given was that all available resources were 

managing incidents of a higher acuity or same category but registered prior to 
this call 

(2)  The second cause of the delay was a handover delay across all BCUHB 
sites. A total of 131.1 hours were lost in delay of handovers on 9 October 
2021. 

(3)  Whilst on the evidence it was not found that the delay contributed to Mr 

Gillespie’s death there remains a significant risk that deaths will continue to 
occur or that future deaths will occur either with patients waiting to be 
transferred into hospital from the ambulance or by ambulances not being 
available to those in the community requiring paramedic assistance and 
transfer to hospital. 

(4)  The matters of concern herein are longstanding and despite proposed future 

action the concerns remain. 

6 

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.  

7 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, 
namely by 20 July 2022 

Only, 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 deceased’s family and the Health Inspectorate 
Wales 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. 

9 

25 May 2022 

SIGNED:  

Kate Sutherland, Assistant Coroner for North Wales (East & Central) 

2

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