Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2022

Frances Ollis

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2022-0276, written 6 Sep 2022. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report6 Sep 2022
Reference2022-0276
DeceasedFrances Ollis
CoronerIan Arrow
Coroner areaPlymouth, Torbay and South Devon
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.

OFFICIAL 

 Ian M Arrow Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner  
for the County of  Devon 
Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon Coroner Service 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:  The Chair, Integrated Care Commission, NHS Devon, 
County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD   

1 

CORONER 

I am Ian Arrow, Senior Coroner for Plymouth Torbay and South Devon  

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. 
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/schedule/5/paragraph/7 
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1629/part/7/made 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

Inquest opened 10th March 2022 
Inquest heard 5th September 2022 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 
The deceased suffered from debilitating conditions, she lived in insanitary conditions. Help was 
called for her on the 21st of February 2022. A safe guarding referral was made. She suffered a 
long lie on the night of 23rd of February. A second visit to the deceased on the 24th of February 
found the deceased in extremis. She had developed sepsis. She died at Torbay Hospital on 25th 
of February 2022. 

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) On the balance of probability there was a missed opportunity to afford timely care and
treatment to the deceased before she was found in extremis on the 24th of February 2022.

 OFFICIAL 

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.  

Please review the protocols in Devon for dealing with individuals whose personal care and 
personal hygiene is inadequate due to their known personal circumstances particularly when this 
presents as a foreseeable risk of infection.      

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by 
Monday 31 October 2022. 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.          
I have also sent it to 
interest. 

 who may find it useful or of 

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 

Dated 06/09/2022 

Signature

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 Devon NHS (PDF)
Ian M. Arrow 
H.M. Coroner 
Derriford Business Park 
Plymouth 
PL6 5QZ 

18 October 2022 

Dear Mr Arrow 

Chief Nursing Officer 
 NHS Devon  
County Hall 
Topsham Road  
Exeter  
EX2 4QD 

NHS Devon Action Plan to address Regulation 28 in relation to the death of FKO 
Review  of  the  protocols  in  Devon  for  dealing  with  individuals  whose  personal  care  and 
personal hygiene is inadequate due to their known personal circumstances particularly when 
this presents as a foreseeable risk of infection.      

Regulation 28 Request from the Coroner 
A range of health and social care agencies provide care to people whose personal care and 
personal hygiene may be inadequate. This lack of personal care is described in the Care Act 
guidance as self-neglect and covers a wide range of behaviour such as neglecting to care for 
one’s  personal  hygiene,  health  or  surroundings  and  includes  behaviour  such  as  hoarding. 
Details about what constitutes self-neglect, and the actions practitioners should take should 
be outlined in safeguarding adult policies. 

Health and social care staff receive regular safeguarding training to improve their knowledge 
and competence. This training is delivered in a variety of ways including face to face sessions, 
e learning packages, webinars, newsletters, and briefings. 

NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) is responsible for commissioning health services in 
Devon.  It  works  in  collaboration  with  NHS  trusts,  GPs,  local  authorities,  and  a  range  of 
agencies  such  as  the  voluntary  and  independent  sector  to  form  an  integrated  care  system 
(ICS) known as One Devon. 

NHS  Devon  ICB  has  reviewed  its  own  safeguarding  adult  policies  and  has  asked  the 
safeguarding leads of those services that it commissions to review and update, if necessary, 
their  safeguarding  policies.  A  learning  brief  has  been  developed  and  disseminated  to  NHS 
commissioned  healthcare  providers  to  inform  staff  of  this  case  and  to  support  staff  to 
understand that a lack of personal care and hygiene (including oral hygiene) can impact upon 
a person’s physical health and wellbeing and can lead to infection and sepsis; and to promote 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 the  recognition  and  support  of  those  individuals  who  are  unable  to  maintain  their  personal 
hygiene to manage the potential risk of infection and sepsis.   

NHS Devon Commissioned Services 
NHS Devon ICB  
NHS 
Commissioned 
Health Services  

Safeguarding Adult Policy reviewed and amended  
Letter sent to request review and amendment of relevant policies and 
confirmation  of  review  and  outcome  by  7th  November  2022.  NHS 
Devon  Head  of  Safeguarding  will  ensure  that  assurance  is  received 
from providers. 
Letter sent to request review and amendment of relevant policies by 7th 
November  2022.  NHS  Devon  Head  of  Safeguarding  will  ensure  that 
assurance is received from providers. 

Independent 
Commissioned 
Health Services 

General Practice  
NHS Devon ICB has delegated commissioning responsibility for General Practice services in 
Devon and provides safeguarding support to GP practices. Each practice is responsible for 
their  safeguarding  policies.  Many  use  the  Royal  College  of  General  Practitioners  (RCGP) 
safeguarding adult policy template.  

Primary  Care 
Safeguarding 
Adult Policies 

RCGP  Safeguarding  Adult  policy  reviewed  by  Primary  Care  Safeguarding 
Named Nurse.29/09/22. Amendment required. Letter sent to request review 
and  amendment  of  relevant  policies  by  7th  November  2022.  NHS  Devon 
Head of Safeguarding will ensure that assurance is received from Practices.  

Communication  will  be  included  in  GP  Bulletin  and  Devon  LMC  (Local 
Medical Committee) newsletter and learning from this case will be discussed 
at the regular fora held with GP Safeguarding Leads 

Safeguarding Adult Partnerships. 
As  a  partner  of  the  two  safeguarding  adult  partnerships  in  Devon;  Torbay  and  Devon 
Safeguarding  Adult  Partnership  (TDSAP)  and  Plymouth  Safeguarding  Adult  Partnership 
(PSAP),  NHS  Devon  will  present  the  learning  from  this  case  and  the  need  to  ensure  that 
multiagency  safeguarding  adult  policies  and  adult  social  care  policies  are  reviewed  and 
updated, and changes disseminated to health and social care staff across the safeguarding 
partnerships.  NHS  Devon  Head  of  Safeguarding  will  take  a  paper  to  the  next  Partnership 
meetings.   
Action 
Paper to PSAP 
Paper to TDSAP 

Date of Partnership Meeting 
13/10/22 
13/12/22 

I hope the above action plan adequately outlines the action taken or planned to be taken by 
NHS Devon to meet the Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths issued’. 

Yours sincerely 

2

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