Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2024

Emilia Allsopp

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2024-0482, written 6 Sep 2024. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report6 Sep 2024
Reference2024-0482
DeceasedEmilia Allsopp
CoronerAlison Mutch
Coroner areaManchester South
CategoryCommunity health care and emergency services 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)  Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 

1 

CORONER 

I am Alison Mutch, Senior Coroner, for the coroner area of South Manchester  

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 17th January 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Emilia 
ALLSOPP. The investigation concluded on the 29th July 2024 and the conclusion 
was one of Narrative: Died from natural causes exacerbated by the 
complications of an accidental fall. The medical cause of death was 1a) Lower 
Respiratory Tract Infection on the background of Left Acetabular fracture II) 
Dementia, Frailty, Ischaemic heart disease, Congestive cardiac failure. 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Emilia Allsopp had dementia, congestive cardiac failure and ischaemic heart 
disease. She had an accidental fall at the care home where she lived. Initially a 
fracture was not diagnosed from the x rays. However the following day her pain 
resulted in her returning to hospital and the fracture being identified. Surgical 
intervention was deemed inappropriate with her comorbidities. She was 
treated conservatively. Due to her limited mobility she developed a lower 
respiratory tract infection when in conjunction with congestive cardiac failure 
led to her respiratory function being significantly compromised. Her cardiac 
function was also further compromised by the stress of the fall, fracture and 
pain. She deteriorated and died at Tameside General Hospital on 15th January 
2024.  

5 

CORONER’S CONCERNS 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 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.  –  

The inquest heard evidence that Mrs Allsopp had struggled at the care home 
due to it being an unfamiliar environment. Her family had wanted her to remain 
cared for by them in a familiar home environment. They felt that if they were 
properly supported, home would be a safer environment for Mrs Allsopp.  
However Mrs Allsopp moved to the care home due to a lack of suitable 
community based support meaning that her family could no longer continue to 
care for her in the community. The inquest was told by her family that it had 
proved impossible to get the level of support they needed for Mrs Allsopp in the 
community as her dementia progressed. This created a situation where she was 
unsafe in her own home and had to move to a new less familiar setting. 
Effective dementia support for the family would have meant that could have 
continued to look after her at home. 
ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

6 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe 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 1st November 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. 

8 

COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following 
Interested Persons namely 
Tameside General Hospital who may find it useful or of interest. 

 on behalf of the family, 

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. 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9 

Alison Mutch 
HM Senior Coroner 

06/09/2024 

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 Dhsc (PDF)
Our ref: 

HM Coroner Alison Mutch  
1 Mount Tabor Street  
Stockport  
SK1 3AG 

By email: 

Dear Ms Mutch, 

From 

Minister of State for Care  

39 Victoria Street  
London  
SW1H 0EU 

8 November 2024 

Thank you for the Regulation 28 report of 6th September 2024, sent to the Department of 
Health and Social Care (DHSC), about the death of Mrs Emilia Allsopp. I am replying as the 
Minister with responsibility for adult social care. 

Firstly, I would like to say how deeply saddened I was to read of the circumstances of Mrs 
Allsopp’s  death.  I  offer  my  sincere  condolences  to  her  family  and  loved  ones.  The 
circumstances  outlined  in  your  report  are  very  concerning  and  I  am  grateful  to  you  for 
bringing these matters to my attention.  

We agree that it is important to enable people to stay well, safe and independent at home 
for longer by providing the right care in the right place at the right time. The government’s 
10 Year Health Plan which will be published in Spring 2025 will be underlined by 3 big shifts 
in healthcare: 

•  hospital to community 
•  analogue to digital 
•  sickness to prevention  

As part of the shift from hospital to community, high quality, safe, and suitable homes are a 
vital part of helping people stay independent and healthy for longer.  

To enable this in England, we continue to fund the locally administered Disabled Facilities 
Grant (DFG) which helps eligible older and disabled people on low incomes to adapt their 
homes – through practical changes like installing stair lifts or level access showers – to make 
them  safe  and  suitable  for their  needs.  At  the budget,  the  Chancellor announced an £86 
million increase to the DFG. These interventions enable older people and/or disabled adults 
to live more independent and healthy lives in their own home, for as long as possible. 

Good  support  within  a  care  environment  also  relies  on  staff  that  are  trained  to  a  high 
standard.  This  is  why,  on  10  January  2024,  the  Department  of  Health  and  Social  Care 
published the first part of the Care Workforce Pathway, a new national career framework, 
for the adult social care sector. The Pathway, along with the departments new Level 2 Adult 
Care  Certificate  qualification,  have  been  developed  to  work  in  conjunction  with  existing 
standards  and  competency  frameworks,  including  the  Dementia  Training  Standards 
Framework. 

  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 On  6  September  2024,  the  Department  launched  the  Adult  Social  Care  Learning  and 
Development  Support  Scheme.  The  Learning  and  Development  Support  Scheme  allows 
eligible  employers  to  claim  for  funding  for  certain  training  courses  and  qualifications  on 
behalf of eligible care staff. This includes a range of qualifications that cover the Dementia 
Training Standards Framework. 

Under  CQC  Regulation  18:  Staffing,  persons  employed  by  the  service  provider  in  the 
provision of a regulated activity must receive such appropriate support, training, professional 
development,  supervision, and appraisal as  is  necessary to  enable  them  to  carry out  the 
duties they are employed to perform. 
I am sorry to hear that Mrs Allsopp’s family did not receive the level of support they felt they 
required to continue caring for Mrs Allsopp in her home. The Care Act 2014 requires local 
authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, 
including support for carers. Local Authorities have duties to support people caring for their 
family  and  friends.  They  are  also  required  to  undertake  Carer’s  Assessments  to  support 
people caring for their family and friends who appear to have a need for support and local 
authorities are required to meet their eligible needs on request from them. The Care Quality 
Commission is assessing how well local authorities are meeting their duties under Part 1 of 
the Care Act 2014, including those relating to carers. 

The  Health  and  Care  Act  2022  contains  significant  measures  for  people  caring  for  their 
family and friends and those they are caring for. These include:   

•  new duties for NHS England and the new Integrated Care boards to involve carers in 

public engagement;    

•  provisions  for  Integrated  Care  Boards  to  promote  the  involvement  of  patients  and 
their  carers  and  representatives  (if  any),  in  decisions  relating  to,  prevention  and 
diagnosis of illness, care and treatment of the person they care for; and,   

•  a  duty for NHS trusts and  foundations  to  take  any  steps  it  considers necessary to 

involve patients and carers in discharge planning, where appropriate.   

Under the Health and Care Act 2022, NHS England and Integrated Care Boards have a duty 
to involve unpaid carers, such as Mrs Allsopp’s family, in care planning. NHS England will 
continue  to  look  for  ways  to  identify  and  support  these  carers.  For  example,  within  the 
hospital discharge process and with regard to virtual wards. 

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

Yours sincerely,

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