Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Rufjan Bibi

Ref: 2015-0053 Date: 11 Feb 2015 Coroner: ME Hassell Area: London Inner (North) Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

Inadequate nursing care for an incontinent patient, a nurse's suggestion of private care, and an unexplained five-hour delay for consultant review despite a critical GCS score were identified.

Date 11 Feb 2015
56-day deadline 8 Apr 2015 est.
Responses identified 1 of 1
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary
Inadequate nursing care for an incontinent patient, a nurse's suggestion of private care, and an unexplained five-hour delay for consultant review despite a critical GCS score were identified.
View full coroner's concerns
1. Ms Bibi’s family told me at inquest that when they came to visit Ms Bibi, which they did daily, they often found her in need of changing (she was incontinent), and then had difficulty obtaining prompt nurse assistance.

They even found her with faeces in her hair.

Whilst this did not impact upon the outcome, it made me question the evidence I had been given about frequent nursing contact, in a way that I would not otherwise have done. (And of course, however busy staff are, it is not a situation that any of us would want for our loved ones.)

2. Family members were also unhappy that a nurse had told them that, if they wanted closer care for Ms Bibi, then they could engage a nurse privately to come to the hospital to look after her.

If this is seriously being suggested as the way for a patient in an NHS hospital to receive appropriate care, then it is worrying indeed for all patients.

If it is not seriously being suggested, then it seems unkind and unnecessary.
3. Having been found at just before 2pm, Ms Bibi did not receive a consultant review until 7pm, and arrangements were then made for her transfer to the Royal London Hospital.

During the intervening five hours, she had a Glasgow Coma Score of ten, yet no witness was able to explain the delay.

Responses

1 respondent
Barts Health NHS Trust NHS / Health Body
2 Apr 2015 PDF
Action Taken

The Trust implemented intentional rounding and documentation audits, and carries out observations of care. A doctor received training on obtaining consultant reviews, and the case was discussed at a morbidity and mortality meeting. (AI summary)

View full response
Dear Ms Hassell Inquest touching the death of Mrs Rufjan Bibi write in response to your Regulation 28: Report to Prevent Future Deaths, dated 11 February 2015. Your first concern was related to the standard of nursing care afforded to Bibi. The family alleged that Mrs Bibi was often found by them in a state requiring urgent cleaning as she was incontinent: were unhappy with the speed by which nursing staff gave assistance_ This matter was discussed with the family at the Local Resolution Meeting that was held between them and Trust staff. During this meeting the Trust apologised to the family. The Trust found that Mrs Bibi was not able to properly articulate her needs and was suffering from dementia. The communication issues arising from this were a significant contributing factor in the reduced speed of nursing care. Also, the family members did not raise this as an issue to Trust staff at the time on the ward and as such immediate action could not be taken: Certain actions have already been taken: Intentional rounding has been implemented as have documentation audits as part of the Clinical Friday initiative which involves senior nurses carrying out a ward round every 1st and 3rd Fridays looking at safety and quality issues. Observations of care are also being carried out. This is an independent observation of the activity of a set team or ward area for a period of time which is then followed by a meeting between the observer and individual staff. The observation surveys a variety of things such as interactions between staff, patients and the public, telephone calls, 1:1 care and even practices such as infection prevention. The intention of the meeting afterwards is to allow the individual member of staff to reflect on their practice and on how were perceived, allowing them to Barts Health NHS Trust: Newham University Hospital, The London Chest Hospital, The Royal London Hospital, St Bartholomews Hospital and Whipps Cross University Hospital: OISABLEQ Mrs They they Nouti 1

Barts Health [NHS NHS Trust think about how would act if were to encounter the same scenario a second time. Training to staff is provided as part of the Older Peoples Education Programme. There is also a Band 7 Ward Manager Supervisory role whereby a Band 7 if possible has a reduced patient workload allowing them to offer support and guidance to more junior staff on a range of clinical issues_ Your second concern involved a member of Barts Health staff telling the Bibi family that if wanted closer care for Mrs Bibi that should engage a nurse privately to come into the hospital and care for her on a 1:1 basis_ This was also discussed at the Local Resolution Meeting held between Trust staff and Mrs Bibi's family. Apologies were made; however; as there were communication issues between Trust staff and the family , the Trust did feel that this was very unlikely to have been said: It is not usual practice to have private 1:1 carers and it is not an option that the Trust would offer. All patients are assessed on admission and regularly reassessed throughout their stay _ Mrs Bibi did not meet the Trusts criteria for 1:1 nursing and the staff caring for her at the time used professional judgement to determine if special care was needed for her outside of the written criteria. Your final concern related to the five gap between Mrs Bibi's fall at Zpm and first consultant review at 7pm This also was discussed at the Local Resolution Meeting andan apology made to the family_ The consultant in charge, doctor] has spoken to the junior doctor who was assigned to the ward at that time. They remembered assessing the patient but did not remember documenting the assessment The medical review was undertaken soon after the fall as the Medical Team were on the ward when the fall occurred. Nursing documentation supports that a review and appropriate checks were instigated as per Barts Health Post-Falls procedures. The in obtaining a consultant review is not usual practice and should not have happened. The member of staff involved has been given training about obtaining a consultant review when a patient is acutely unwell or suffers a potentially dangerous injury: The doctor will also reflect on this incident in their portfolio_ Ihas also discussed Mrs Bibi's case at one of the departmental morbidity and mortality meetings prior to the Inquest hearing; the Coroners findings will be reported back to the department at the next meeting: Ihas also met with the new trainees who joined the department on the 01 April 2015. She explained the department's escalation policy regarding patients on the rehabilitation site or on any of the wards, who become acutely unwell. Timely assessment and intervention with good documentation are essential in ensuring that acute serious problems are treated appropriately. Senior review should always be sought expeditiously so that on-going management can be planned. Any adverse incidents on the ward, whether resulting in harm or not; should always be discussed and documented with patients andlor relatives as appropriate. Plans for on-going care should be specified. The aim of this training to juniors is to prevent delay in care that is likely to result in harm to our patients. Barts Health NHS Trust: Newham University Hospital, The London Chest Hospital, The Royal London Hospital, St Bartholomew's Hospital and Whipps Cross University Hospital. 2 OISABLEQ they they being they they hour her very delay ABout

Barts Health [HS NHS Trust Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention. trust that you are assured have taken them seriously and investigated them appropriately.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest
On 23 September 2015, I commenced an investigation into the death of Rufjan Bibi, aged 72 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest yesterday.

I made a determination that death was the consequence of an accident, when Rufjan Bibi fell in Mile End Hospital at around 1.45-1.55pm on 1 July 2014 and hit her head, at the time suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

Her medical cause of death was:

1a bilateral bronchopneumonia 1b acute on chronic subdural haematoma 2 Parkinson’s disease
Circumstances of the death
Ms Bibi was admitted to the Royal London Hospital on 6 June 2014 and then transferred to Mile End Hospital on 12 June for rehabilitation.

At the time of admission she was already compromised, as a result of her Parkinson’s and also a fall that she had sustained at the beginning of the year causing subdural haematoma.

On 1 July, she was seen sitting beside her bed, and was then found on the floor having sustained a head injury. I recognise that it is impossible to prevent falls in hospital completely, just as it is impossible to prevent falls in the community. However, there other matters that I should like to bring to your attention.
Copies sent to
Care Quality Commission for EnglandProfessor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England

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Report details

Reference
2015-0053
Date of report
11 February 2015
Coroner
ME Hassell
Coroner area
London Inner (North)

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: 8 Apr 2015 (estimated).

Sent to

Barts Health

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