Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Jacqueline Williams

Ref: 2015-0421-wp25020 Date: 2 Nov 2015 Coroner: Michael Singleton Area: Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

The mental health referral system was prone to human error, failing to provide ED staff with confirmation of accepted referrals or assessment times. The Mental Health Liaison Team also lacked a process to identify patients awaiting assessment.

Date 2 Nov 2015
56-day deadline 28 Dec 2015 est.
Responses identified 1 of 1
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary
The mental health referral system was prone to human error, failing to provide ED staff with confirmation of accepted referrals or assessment times. The Mental Health Liaison Team also lacked a process to identify patients awaiting assessment.
View full coroner's concerns
In the circumstances it is my to report to you the MATTER OF CONCERN is as follows: That the process of referral to Mental Health Liaison Team was subject to human error and that the systems in place failed to provide for such mistakes to be easily identified and rectified. In particular there was no opportunity for staff in the emergency department to see confirmation that a referral had been accepted, the time of that referral and the expected time when mental health assessment would take place: Likewise the Mental Health Liaison Team did not have a process that whereby they were able to identify those patients that the staff in the emergency department believed had been referred and were awaiting assessment the duty the

Responses

1 respondent
Lancashire Care NHS Trust NHS / Health Body
30 Nov 2015 PDF
Action Taken

• All staff were briefed on the referral process to ensure full understanding, and learning from the joint investigation was shared. • The Trust met with East Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to explore in detail how to improve the referral process. • The Trust is looking to utilise the CRISP board within the Emergency Department to record referrals made to specialist teams. (AI summary)

View full response
Dear Mr. Singleton, Jacqueline Williams (deceased) ~ Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths The Trust acknowledges receipt of your letter dated 2 November 2015 In the regulation 28 report you raise the following concerns: The process of referral to the Mental Health Liaison Team is subject to human error 2 The referral process does provide opportunity for staff in the emergency department to see conformation that a referral has been accepted and when can expect an assessment to take place 3 The Mental Health Liaison Team do not have a process to identify patients that the staff in the emergency department believe they have referred for assessment: Following this incident we undertook joint investigation with East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust: This resulted in the development of an action plan t0 implement measures to improve safety and prevent such tragic event from recurring: We continue to implement this action plan and work closely with East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and the commissioning groups for East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen; Below are details of the actions that have been taken to date and those that are planned that address the concerns of your regulation 28 report: In the immediate term, we have briefed all staff on the referral process to ensure fully understand that process and shared the learning from our joint investigation_ We have also met with East Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to explore in detail how we can improve the referral process upporting Health and Wellbeing 01548449 ch )r Mdckim: MINDFUL EMPLOYER Way they they Lou, 0 JFl( 8

Lancashire Care [NHS] NHS Foundation Trust Within the Emergency Department they use the CRISP board to record the referrals made to specialists teams and we are looking to utilise this technology: A further option we are exploring is the development of a system whereby East Lancashire Hospital NHS Trust staff email the Mental Health Liaison Team wilh the patient's details and a brief reason for referral: The Mental Health Liaison Team would then acknowledge receipt of the email and also give approximate time of assessment: The referral information is already recorded within the Mental Health Liaison referral log book, however this approach we are looking to implement will ensure that positive confirmation is provided to Emergency Department staff. hope this addresses your concems and wish to assure you that we are keen to implement systems to prevent similar incidents in the future_ Should you require any further information the Trust will be more than to assist:

Report sections

Investigation and inquest
On the 28th January 2018 [ commenced an investigation onto the death of Jacqueline Williams aged 42. The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest which was concluded on 28t October 2015. The conclusion of the Inquest was that Jacqueline Williams had committed suicide;
Circumstances of the death
On the evening of Monday 26u January 2015 Jacqueline Williams was conveyed by ambulance to the Royal Blackburn Hospital where she was triaged and assessed to be at moderate risk of self-harm: A decision was made that she should be referred directly to the Mental Health Liaison Team: Due to a breakdown in communication between the triaging nurse and the Mental Health Liaison nurse no actual referral was accepted by the Mental Health Liaison Team: Having been placed in a cubicle within the emergency department at the Royal Blackburn Hospital Jacqueline Williams hanged herself from the central observation light using the electrical cord tied around her neck

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Report details

Reference
2015-0421-wp25020
Date of report
2 November 2015
Coroner
Michael Singleton
Coroner area
Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

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: 28 Dec 2015 (estimated).

Sent to

East Lancashire NHS Trust

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