Sussex Partnership NHS Trust
NHS / Health Body
Action Taken
Guidance regarding voluntary patients leaving the wards has been included in the new Acute Care Operational Policy. (AI summary)
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Dear Ms Schofield Re: Inquest into the death of John Peter Richardson Thank you for your letter dated 8 March 2019 enclosing your Report to Prevent Future Deaths under Regulation 28 Coroners (Investigations) Regulations
2013. write to formally respond and to provide you with details of the action taken by the Trust as a result of the concern that you have raised. Following Mr Richardson's tragic death, the Serious Incident Investigator, Lorrainne Biddle, met with me to go through all the failings she identified. She did this because of the level of her concern, because she knew that would want oversight and so that | could contact the family at the earliest opportunity. was pleased to hear that the agreed with her findings and that you were satisfied with the measures that we in place to address matters. This was a particularly sad case and have, since the Inquest, met with Mr Richardson's wife and one of his daughters to offer personal apology and provide ongoing assurance as to the actions that have been taken_ Following receipt of your letter, we have given considerable further thought as to how best we might improve our staff's understanding of the principles to be followed when voluntary patients leave the wards. The decision we have taken is to include guidance in our new Acute Care Operational Policy: have enclosed copy of that guidance for your information. As you will see, it covers both s.17 leave as well as the principles that need to be applied to voluntary patients_ Presenting the guidance in this way was considered to be preferable to any further stand alone policy. It is hoped that this will be highly accessible and provide immediate access to the principles, coupled with signposting to other documents if more information is required. Chair: Peter Molyneux Chief Executive: Samantha Allen Head office: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Swandean;, Arundel Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 3EP M sussexpartnership nhs uk teaching trust of Brighton and Sussex Medical School May Jury put key
hope that the content of the enclosed addresses your concern and provides you with complete reassurance. However; if any further clarification is required or can assist further in any way then please do not hesitate to contact me_
2013. write to formally respond and to provide you with details of the action taken by the Trust as a result of the concern that you have raised. Following Mr Richardson's tragic death, the Serious Incident Investigator, Lorrainne Biddle, met with me to go through all the failings she identified. She did this because of the level of her concern, because she knew that would want oversight and so that | could contact the family at the earliest opportunity. was pleased to hear that the agreed with her findings and that you were satisfied with the measures that we in place to address matters. This was a particularly sad case and have, since the Inquest, met with Mr Richardson's wife and one of his daughters to offer personal apology and provide ongoing assurance as to the actions that have been taken_ Following receipt of your letter, we have given considerable further thought as to how best we might improve our staff's understanding of the principles to be followed when voluntary patients leave the wards. The decision we have taken is to include guidance in our new Acute Care Operational Policy: have enclosed copy of that guidance for your information. As you will see, it covers both s.17 leave as well as the principles that need to be applied to voluntary patients_ Presenting the guidance in this way was considered to be preferable to any further stand alone policy. It is hoped that this will be highly accessible and provide immediate access to the principles, coupled with signposting to other documents if more information is required. Chair: Peter Molyneux Chief Executive: Samantha Allen Head office: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Swandean;, Arundel Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 3EP M sussexpartnership nhs uk teaching trust of Brighton and Sussex Medical School May Jury put key
hope that the content of the enclosed addresses your concern and provides you with complete reassurance. However; if any further clarification is required or can assist further in any way then please do not hesitate to contact me_