Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2024

John Hartey

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2024-0287, written 29 May 2024. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report29 May 2024
Reference2024-0287
DeceasedJohn Hartey
CoronerChris Morris
Coroner areaManchester South
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedManchester University NHS Foundation Trust
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 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:  Rt. Hon. Victoria Atkins MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social 
Care 

CORONER 

I am Chris Morris, Area Coroner for Manchester South. 

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 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

On 3rd April 2024, Alison Mutch OBE, Senior Coroner, opened an inquest into the death of John 
Richard Hartey who was found dead at his home on 20th October 2023, aged 57 years.  The 
investigation concluded with an inquest which I heard on 3rd May 2024. 

A post mortem examination determined the medical cause of Mr Hartey’s death as being:-

1) a) Congestive cardiac failure; 

b) Hypertensive heart disease; 

c) Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus 

II) Acute bronchitis and transplant immunosuppression 

The conclusion of the inquest was a Narrative Conclusion of natural causes contributed to by 
recognised complications arising from transplant immunosuppression. 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Mr Hartey was found dead at his home on 20th October 2023 as a consequence of congestive cardiac 
failure against a background of hypertensive heart disease and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.  His death 
was contributed to by acute bronchitis and transplant immunosuppression. 

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 MATTER OF CONCERN is as follows. – 

The court heard evidence to the effect that in the days prior to his death, Mr Hartey’s General 
Practitioner had made an Urgent Referral to the local District Nursing service which was received on 
19th October 2023.  Mr Hartey was allocated the first available appointment which was not until 23rd 
October 2023. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 It is a matter of concern that a national shortage of District Nurses / Community Specialist 
Practitioners can lead to a delay in patients being seen in accordance with their needs. 

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. 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by 
24th July 2024. 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. 

COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner, and to Mr Hartey’s sister. 

I have also sent a copy to Urmston Group Practice and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust 
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. 

Dated: 

29th May 2024 

Signature:  Chris Morris, HM Area Coroner, Manchester South.

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 Dhsc (PDF)
Our ref: 

Mr Chris Morris 
HM Area Coroner for Manchester South  
Coroner's Court 
1 Mount Tabor Street 
Stockport 
SK1 3AG 

By email: 

Dear Mr Morris, 

Minister of State for Care 
39 Victoria Street 
London 
SW1H 0EU 

22 August 2024 

Thank you for the Regulation 28 report of  29 May 2024 sent to the Department of Health 
and Social Care about the death of John Richard Hartey. I am replying as the Minister with 
responsibility for community health services.       

Firstly, I would like to say how saddened I was to read of the circumstances of John Richard 
Hartey’s  death,  and  I  offer  my  sincere  condolences  to  their  family  and  loved  ones.  The 
circumstances your report describes are  concerning and I am grateful to you for bringing 
these matters to my attention.  

The  report  raises  concerns  that  a  national  shortage  of  District  Nurses  and  Community 
Specialist Practitioners can lead to a delay in patients being seen in accordance with their 
needs.  In  preparing  this  response,  departmental  officials  have  made  enquiries  with  NHS 
England. 

The correct staffing levels are key in delivering safe care. NHS England has developed a 
national Community Nursing Safer Staffing Tool which is being offered to community nursing 
providers to support them with identifying the right staffing levels. The tool can help to identify 
gaps in the service and enable strategies to be developed locally to address any shortfall in 
workforce  numbers.  This  tool  calculates  clinical  staffing  requirements  based  on  patients’ 
needs (acuity and dependency) which, together with professional judgement, guides chief 
nurses in their safe staffing decisions. 

We have set out a clear commitment to move to a neighbourhood health service, with more 
care delivered in local communities to spot problems earlier, this includes over time shifting 
resources to primary care and community services. In the longer term, we are committed to 
training the staff the NHS needs to be there for patients when they need it.   

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 Minister of State for Care 
39 Victoria Street 
London 
SW1H 0EU 

Demand is increasing nationally for community and district nursing services, and we have 
been informed that there is a high demand for district nursing services in the Trafford locality.  

The Trafford district nursing service operates clinical triage, to ensure patients are seen as 
timely  as  possible. The  organisation  is  working  to  review  the  service  specification  with 
commissioners, to provide necessary assurance and response based on clinical need in the 
future.  

A recruitment and retention strategy launched on 16th July by the Manchester University 
NHS  Foundation  Trust, with  recruitment  events  held  in  April  and  May  and  July,  aim  to 
increase  service  capacity.  Four  posts have  also  been  offered  as  part  of  the "guaranteed 
jobs" programme  to  newly  qualified  staff  and  staff  turnover  has  improved  from 20.9% 
June 2023 to 10.7% May 2024. 

Service  transformation  across  the  Trafford  locality  has  brought  together  care  to  support 
discharge and provide urgent community response services. The implementation of the new 
model has  meant  an  increase  in  establishment  in  the  team,  allowing  development  of  the 
crisis service to meet the 2-hour response national standard. 

These changes have been important to support patient flow in and out of hospital but have 
not reduced the demand on district nursing services in the area which has seen an increase 
in referrals of 15% in 2023/24. 

There are ongoing discussions between the Integrated Care Board, Manchester University 
NHS  Foundation  Trust  and  Trafford  Local  Care  Organisation  (TLCO)  in  relation  to  the 
funding of the TLCO Community Services, recognising the capacity challenges.  

I hope this response is helpful. Thank you again for bringing these concerns to my attention.   

Yours sincerely,

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