Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2018

Hubert Kelly

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, written 19 Sep 2018. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report19 Sep 2018
DeceasedHubert Kelly
CoronerLaura Nash
Coroner areaBlack Country
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

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, The Dudley Group Trust Foundation Trust  
2.  Care Quality Commission  

1 

CORONER 

I am Laura Nash, Assistant Coroner, for the coroner area of the Black Country. 

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 the 21st March 2018, I commenced an investigation into the death Hubert Kelly. The 
investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 12 September 2018. The conclusion 
of the inquest was a short narrative conclusion of natural causes death. 

The cause of death was:   

1a   Old Age 
2     Hypertension, Aortic Stenosis, Bullous Pemphigoid  

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

i)  On the evening of 13th November 2017 Hubert Kelly was taken to hospital in 

an ambulance following a deterioration in his health; 

ii)  He  was  triaged  by  a  nurse  at  the  Accident  and  Emergency  Department  at 

Russells Hall Hospital; 

iii)  He was directed to the waiting area of the emergency department where he 

spent four hours in a wheelchair sat with his family; 

iv)  There  was  no  meaningful interaction  with  Mr  Kelly  during  those  hours  with 
nursing  staff  until  it  was  noticed  that  he  was  not  disrupted  by  noise  in  the 
waiting room. Nursing staff conducted a check at 4am and discovered that 
Mr Kelly had passed away.  

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.  –  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 1.  Evidence  emerged  during  the  inquest  that following  triage  assessment  nursing 
staff  lacked  room  or  resources  to  allow  patients  to  remain  in  the  ambulance 
triage  area  or  in  a  cubicle  and  consequently  patients  were  left  to  wait  in 
corridors; 

2.  There was no meaningful interaction with patients waiting for further assessment 

including no permanent medically qualified staff in the waiting area; 

3.  Waiting times at the emergency department were frequently exceeding the four-
hour waiting time set nationally, with patients waiting to be seen by clinicians for 
up to seven hours. 

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

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

1.  The Trust may wish to review the accountability and monitoring in place for 

patients who have been triaged in the Emergency Department and are awaiting 
further clinical assessment.   

7 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, 
namely by 14th November 2018. 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: 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. 

9 

 19th September 2018 

Miss Laura Nash 
Assistant Coroner 
Black Country Area

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