Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2015

Laura Newlands

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, written 2015. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report2015
DeceasedLaura Newlands
CoronerJohn Gittins
Coroner areaNorth Wales (East and Central)
CategoryOther related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1)

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

The Chief Executive, Denbighshire County Council, County Hall, Wynnstay Road,
Ruthin LL15 1YN

1 CORONER

lam JOHN ADRIAN GITTINS, senior coroner, for the coroner area of North Wales (East
and Central)]

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 16" of August 2011 | commenced an investigation into the death of Laura Beth
Newlands (DOB 3.11.1995 DOD 12.8.2011). The investigation concluded at the end of
the inquest on the 27" of November 2015 and | recorded a conclusion of Suicide with
the cause of death being 1(a) Trazodone Overdose

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

The Circumstances of the death are that the Deceased had been known to
Denbighshire Social Services (DSS) as a result of referrals from her school and the
Child and Adolescent Service (CAMHS) due to concerns relating to her self harming as
a result of difficult home circumstances.

Although action was initially taken by DSS, her case was then closed and thereafter
there was a delay in taking further action to provide support to her as a Professionals’
Meeting was not arranged in a timely fashion and she took her own life by way of an
overdose four days before the scheduled meeting.

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. Although a “safety plan” is prepared by CAMHS at the time of discharge from

hospital, there does not appear to be sufficient input to this document by DSS
with the result that those caring for a young person at risk may have incomplete
written information available to them to properly ensure the safety of the young
person.

2. Adelay in scheduling an appropriate meeting of Professionals resulted in a
missed opportunity to provide support and protection of a young person at risk
and there was not therefore a prompt response to a crisis

3. The decision to close the case (and then not to reopen the same) by DSS
resulted in there being no further assessments conducted at a time when action
should have been taken and could have resulted in additional support for the
deceased and her family. Such a decision may not have been made if the case
had been reviewed by a senior staff member who was not directly involved in
the investigation.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe your
organisation has 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 27'h January 2016 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

| have s ‘o the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Person (parents of the Deceased)

ae ..... of the Deceased)

| 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.

[DATE] 2"? December 2015 [SIGNED BY CORONER]

GAA a

Related reports

More reports categorised “Other related deaths”

See all →

Track John Gittins

See every Prevention of Future Deaths report matching John Gittins, 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.