Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2022

Demet Akcicek

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2022-0277, written 5 Sep 2022. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report5 Sep 2022
Reference2022-0277
DeceasedDemet Akcicek
CoronerMary Hassell
Coroner areaInner North London
CategoryAlcohol, drug and medication related deaths · Mental Health 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 

Demet AKCICEK (died 27.05.22) 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1. 

Chief Executive 
Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust (C&I) 
4th Floor, East Wing 
St Pancras Hospital  
4 St Pancras Way 
London  NW1 0PE  

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 4 April 2022, I commenced an investigation into the death of Demet 
Akcicek, aged 41 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the 
inquest  on  5  September  2022.  I  made  a  determination  at  inquest  as 
follows. 

Demet Akcicek died as a result of taking an excess of medication that 
was both prescribed for her, and obtained by her online. 

She  had  suffered  long  term  post  traumatic  stress  disorder  and 
depression, and had become dependent upon 

. 

She did not intend to take her life. 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Ms Akcicek was found on the morning of 27 May 2022 by her partner, in 
bed  with  their  7  year  old  son.    She  had  died  in  the  night  beside  her 
sleeping child. 

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.  

When  the duty  worker  from  Islington  complex  depression,  anxiety and 
trauma  (CDAT)  service  rang  Ms  Akcicek  for  a  welfare  check  on  25 
November 2021, Ms Akcicek reported feeling “quite bad” and that she 
wanted to cry.  She explained that she had difficulty performing everyday 
activities such as cooking and taking her child to school.  She said that 
two nights earlier, her son reported that she had woken chanting, “I don’t 
want to die, I don’t want to die”. 

The duty worker (a registered mental health nurse) formed the view that 
Ms Akcicek needed to be seen by the service, but failed to put her name 
on the board, and so she was not discussed at the multi disciplinary team 
meeting  and  no  follow  up  was  arranged.    In  addition,  the  duty  worker 
accepted  in  court that  her  note  of  the  conversation  was  insufficient.    I 
found the note difficult to understand and the duty worker was not able 
fully to explain its meaning. 

The  duty  worker  told  me  that  she  will  not  make  such  mistakes  again.  
However,  I  did  not  hear  evidence  of  what  steps,  if  any,  Camden  & 
Islington Trust has taken to avoid such a situation arising in future. 

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 7 November 2023.  I, the coroner, may extend 
the period. 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 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 following. 

• 
•  HHJ Thomas Teague QC, the Chief Coroner of England & Wales 

, partner of Demet Akcicek 

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 

07.09.22                                              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 Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust (PDF)
Coroner ME Hassell 
Senior Coroner 
Inner North London 
St Pancras Coroner’s Court 
Camley Street 
London N1C 4PP 

Executive Office 
4th Floor, East Wing 
St Pancras Hospital 
4 St Pancras Way 
London NW1 0PE 

3rd November 2022 

Dear Coroner Hassell 

Re Prevention of Future Deaths report – Demet Akcicek 

I am writing further to this inquest which took place on 5th September 2022.  You issued a 
regulation 28 report in regard to the following issues; after a telephone conversation with Ms 
Akcicek from which it was agreed that follow up was required, the duty worker from the 
Complex Depression Anxiety and Trauma Team (CDAT) failed to write Ms Akcicek’s name 
on the board, which meant that she was not discussed at the multidisciplinary team meeting 
and no follow up was arranged.  The duty worker accepted in court that her note of the 
conversation was insufficient.  She assured the court that she personally would not make 
such a mistake again, but you did not hear evidence as to what the Trust has done to 
prevent such a situation arising in future. 

Firstly I would like to offer sincere apologies to Ms Akcicek’s family on behalf of both the 
CDAT team and the Trust for this error which led to her not being followed up by the team.  
In order to address this and prevent it happening again, the team manager and service 
manager have updated the CDAT Operational Policy and have implemented a daily duty 
sheet/tracker.  All matters dealt with on duty are logged immediately on this sheet which are 
then cross checked at 4.30pm daily by the senior on duty to handover and ensure 
appropriate follow up for all issues logged.  A copy of the amended Operational policy 
incorporating this new process is enclosed with this response.   

This new process has been discussed at the team business meeting and was officially 
started on 24th October.  It will be reviewed in 6 weeks’ time and monitored going forward 
through audit and governance processes, to ensure that it is embedded in the team’s usual 
business practice and is working effectively.  It will be included in the induction of new staff 
who join the team. 

In regard to record keeping, the team has been reminded that in accordance with both Trust 
policy and professional obligations, clinical records should be full, accurate and entered in a 
timely manner.  This will continue to be monitored through individual staff supervision and 
record keeping audits. 

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Yours sincerely 

Chief Executive

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