Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Ann Pearce

Ref: 2023-0484 Date: 28 Nov 2023 Coroner: Joanne Andrews Area: West Sussex, Brighton and Hove 1 response identified · 1 indexed addressee View PDF

AI-generated concerns summaryThe hospital's Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Policy did not include risk assessment for patients who attended but were not admitted, and no other policy covered this patient group.

Date 28 Nov 2023
56-day deadline 23 Jan 2024 est. estimated from the report date
Responses identified 1 of 1
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary
The hospital's Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Policy did not include risk assessment for patients who attended but were not admitted, and no other policy covered this patient group.
View full coroner's concerns
Evidence at the inquest revealed that the Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Policy of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust version 1.4 did not make provision for assessment of risk to patients who attended hospital but were not admitted. There was no evidence of any other policy or procedure which did so.

Responses

1 respondent

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

NHS Trust
Letter dated 17 Jan 2024 PDF
AI-classified response stance Action Taken
AI-generated response summary

• The Trust developed a policy for thromboprophylaxis in ambulatory trauma patients discharged from the Emergency Department. • Patient advice leaflets were designed for clinicians to provide to patients. • A Trust Theme of the Week message was sent to all staff regarding VTE in lower limb injury and immobilisation.

View full response
Dear Ms Andrews Inquest into the death of Ann Dorothy Pearce Thank you for your letter of 28 November 2023, enclosing your formal report under Regulation 28 to Prevent Future Deaths. My heartfelt sympathy and condolences to Mrs Pearce's family. We have taken considerable actions and made extensive improvements to patient safety following Mrs Pearce's death and the inquest, and I will set these out below. We have developed a Trust policy for Thromboprophylaxis in Ambulatory Trauma Patients discharged from the Emergency Department. In addition, patient advice leaflets have been designed for clinicians to give to patients. The patient advice leaflets are as follows: Immobilisation advice leaflet Anticoagulation treatment with Dalteparin Anticoagulation treatment with Enoxaparin A Trust Theme of the Week message has been sent to all staff on 'VTE in lower limb injury and immobilisation' to ensure our clinical teams are up to date and this includes the top 3 'need to know' points as follows:
1. All patients will need baseline bloods (FBC, U&Es, LFTs and coagulation profile) within the last three months to aid prescribing of thromboprophylaxis.

2. If there are no contraindications, patients will need to be prescribed and discharged with 30 days of LMHW, or rivaroxaban if LMWH is contraindicated; if suspected Achilles tendon rupture then a 42 day course should be prescribed.
3. All patients will need advice leaflets on reducing the risk of VTE with lower limb immobilisation and anticoagulation treatment with Dalteparin or enoxaparin, or rivaroxaban. The key learning, patient leaflets, and new policy are being widely shared and discussed in department, team, and divisional safety huddles and meetings. Mrs Pearce's case has had an immense impact throughout the Trust and the learning has been disseminated widely as her legacy to improve patient safety. Once again, my sincere condolences to Mrs Pearce's family. I hope you are assured by the changes we have made.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest
On 13 April 2022 I commenced an investigation into the death of Ann Dorothy PEARCE aged 61. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 27 November 2023. The conclusion of the inquest was a narrative which stated: Ann Dorothy Pearce sustained a fracture of her tibial spine on 26 March 2022 having fallen from her bicycle in Burgess Hill that day. She was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital for treatment and discharged on 28 March 2022. On 1 April 2022 she became unwell at home and an ambulance attended and took her to the Princess Royal Hospital for treatment where she was diagnosed with a massive pulmonary embolism. She was treated but sadly died on 1 April 2022.
Circumstances of the death
Ann Dorothy Pearce was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital for treatment and was discharged on 28 March 2022. During her admission she was immobilised in a brace and on discharge was only partially weight bearing. The Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Policy of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust version 1.4 required that this should be undertaken on admission and reviewed on the daily ward round. No Venous Thromboembolism assessment was undertaken during her admission or on discharge. She became unwell at home on 1 April 2022 and was taken to hospital for treatment but sadly died from a massive pulmonary embolism that day.

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Shared signals

Report details

Reference
2023-0484
Date of report
28 November 2023
Coroner
Joanne Andrews
Coroner area
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove

Responses identified

Responses identified 1 of 1
All listed responses identified

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 23 Jan 2024 (estimated from the report date).

Sent to

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

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