Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2025

Raymond Jennings

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2025-0125, written 6 Mar 2025. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report6 Mar 2025
Reference2025-0125
DeceasedRaymond Jennings
CoronerSteve Eccleston
Coroner areaWest Yorkshire Western
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

NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

1 Abbey Place Nursing Home

1

CORONER

I am Steve ECCLESTON, Assistant Coroner for the coroner area of West Yorkshire Western
Coroner Area

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 28 March 2023 I commenced an investigation into the death of Raymond JENNINGS
aged 84. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 06 March 2025. The
conclusion of the inquest was that:

Raymond (known as 'Ray') Jennings died on 07.03.23 at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary from
pneumonia. There was a failure to promptly administer antibiotics by his care home but this
was probably not causative in his death.

4

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Raymond, an 84 year old gentleman was admitted to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary on 19th
February 2023, He was diagnosed with sepsis due to community acquired pneumonia

Despite medication, Raymonds prognosis remained poor, he was put on palliative care on
24th February and sadly passed away on 7th March 2023

5

CORONER’S CONCERNS

During the course of the investigation my inquiries 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:
(brief summary of matters of concern)

Ray Jennings lived at Abbey Place Care Home, 90, Abbey Road, Huddersfield HD2 1BB. He
was physically frail and lived with Alzheimer's Dementia

Antibiotics for a chest infection were prescribed by Ray's out of hours GP on 16.02.23. The
care home made initial attempts to obtain the antibiotics from a pharmacy that evening but
failed to achieve this. They did not seek further medical advice or admission to hospital that
night. Further unsuccessful attempts were made to obtain the antibiotics the next day. No
attempts were made to obtain antibiotics on 18.02.23 nor was further medical advice or
admission to hospital sought. By 19.02.23 Ray's condition had deteriorated to the extent
that he required hospital admission.

Regulation 28 – After Inquest
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021

 Despite appropriate treatment in hospital, Ray did not recover and he died on 07.03.23.
The medical evidence was clear that, although it could not be said that prompt admission of
antibiotics would have probably prevented the need for Ray to be admitted to hospital
and/or his death, the failure to either promptly administer the antibiotics or seek further
medical care for him was a significant failing on the part of the care home. This was
admitted in evidence and was identified as a missed opportunity.

Evidence was given by the care home that lessons had been learned and systems improved
but no documents were adduced in support of this such that the court could be confident
that this issue would not reoccur. For that reason this report is being issued, in particular in
relation to the concern that there may be a future risk that other vulnerable residents may
not have their need for the prompt administration of prescribed medications met.

6

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or
your organisation) 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 May 01, 2025. 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

8

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Persons

Abbey Place Nursing Home

I have also sent it to

who may find it useful or of interest.

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 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 by the Chief Coroner.

9

Dated: 06/03/2025

Steve ECCLESTON
Assistant Coroner for
West Yorkshire Western Coroner Area

Regulation 28 – After Inquest
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021

 Regulation 28 – After Inquest
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021

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 Abbey Place Nursing Home (PDF)
WCG Abbey Ltd

Hurst Court
; Nook Lane
Wood Care Group Ashton Under Lyne
OL6 9HN

17/03/2025
Dear Mr Steve Eccleston,

{am writing in relation to the Section 28 report following the inquest of Raymond Jennings. This
report requests that we write to you with what actions have been taken by the home to prevent this
happening again.

| have detailed below the processes that have been completed and are in place. For context we had

not owned the home for a significant period when this incident occurred and were in the process of
replacing the processes in place by the previous provider. We have since this date fully implemented
all our systems and processes into the home.

Medication Policy

We have updated our medication policy which has been reviewed and sent to be signed by all staff
this states that should a out of hours/emergency medication be prescribed and is either out of stock
or unobtainable within 3 hours the team are to call for medical advice.

Electronic Medication System

We have implemented an electronic medication system throughout the home, this system emails a
report daily to the home management and area manager with stock levels, missed medications or any
other medication issues so they can have complete oversight.

Care Planning System

We have implemented a digital care planning system that improves documentation and provides real
time analysis to ensure processes are monitored and all care is delivered.

GP and Pharmacy Changes

We have changed so that all residents use the same GP surgery and pharmacy this allows clear
communication between the home and the designated organisations and builds a close relationship
with them which has significantly improved the medication processes throughout the home.

Documentation Training

We have completed documentation training with all staff since this incident to ensure record keeping
is improved and accurate.

| hope this provides reassurance that we have taken the required steps to avoid a repeat of the tragic
incident that occurred.

Should you require any further information please let me know

Kind Regards
Director

WCG Abbey Ltd

Related reports

Other reports by Steve Eccleston

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.