Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2022

Sylvia Gibson

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2022-0342, written 27 Oct 2022. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report27 Oct 2022
Reference2022-0342
DeceasedSylvia Gibson
CoronerJeremy Chipperfield
Coroner areaCounty Durham and Darlington
CategoryCare Home 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:  REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1. Chief Executive Officer, LAMBTON HOUSE LTD

1 

CORONER 

I am Jeremy Chipperfield, senior coroner for the coroner area of Durham and Darlington 

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. 

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/schedule/5/enacted 
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1629/regulation/28/made 
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1629/regulation/29/made 
INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

3 

On Second September 2022 I commenced an investigation into the death of Sylvia 
GIBSON, aged 96. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 27th October 
2022. I found  that the deceased died as a result of natural causes to which accidental 
injuries contributed. 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Sylvia sustained an unwitnessed fall in the early hours of 17th August 2022 thereby 
sustaining injuries. These injuries were not reported to the attending medical 
practitioner.  
CORONER’S CONCERNS 

5 

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In 
my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the 
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. 

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows.  – 

Although staff at Lambton House Care Home were aware of her fall in the early hours of 
17th August, and this information was handed over to other staff, the same information 
was not conveyed to the doctor who visited Sylvia (being  “not her usual  self”) at around 
lunchtime that day. It appears that no systems were in place to ensure that 
important information is conveyed to healthcare professionals.  

Evidence does not suggest that this communications failure contributed to Sylvia’s 
death. 

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you or your 
organisation have the power to take such action.  

1 

 7 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, 
namely by 22 December 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 and to the following Interested 
Persons  

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 

Jeremy CHIPPERFIELD 

27 October 2022 

2

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 Lambton House (PDF)
Subject: 
Date: 

[EXTERNAL]:Notification of Inq Conclusion for PIPs GIBSON S 18082022 
03 November 2022 16:22:20 

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless 
you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 

In response to your report in relation to S Gibson, dated the 27/10/2022, the following actions 
have been implemented with immediate effect 

Any witnessed or unwitnessed fall must be fully documented.
The service user is to be visually checked by the senior care manager on duty.
All observations are to be completed and recorded (O2 sats, Pulse, BP, Temp, Resps).
The appropriate medical persons are to be contacted at the time and informed of
witnessed/unwitnessed fall. (999, 111, Recovery at Home, GP.)
All observations will be passed over to the relevant clinician for advice.
The advice given will be documented and followed. 

The above actions must be followed in the event of any fall. 
All senior members of staff will receive a supervision on the importance of communication and 
documentation. They have also received a copy of the above actions. 

Regards 

Registered Manager 
Lambton House 
New Lambton 
Fencehouses 
Houghton le Spring 
DH4 6DE

Related reports

Other reports by Jeremy Chipperfield

See all →

More reports categorised “Care Home Health related deaths”

See all →

Track Care Home Health related deaths

See every Prevention of Future Deaths report matching Care Home Health related deaths, and how often a new one appears.

What would an alert for this have sent me? Search the full text

Free to try — the preview shows the real matches and how many arrived in the last 12 months. Your first email alert is free.

These reports are published by the Chief Coroner's office at judiciary.uk and are © Crown copyright. The text here is reproduced from the published PDF so it can be searched. If something on this page is wrong, or you are a person named in it and want it reviewed, email drcjar@gmail.com and we will act promptly.