Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Stephen Palmer

Ref: 2014-0072 Date: 25 Feb 2014 Coroner: Veronica Hamilton-Deeley Area: Brighton & Hove Responses identified: 0 / 1 View PDF

Multiple failures, including delayed assessments, lack of senior review, inappropriate unit transfer, and a complete CT scanning service failure, led to critical deterioration and suboptimal surgical management.

Date 25 Feb 2014
56-day deadline 22 Apr 2014 est.
Responses identified 0 of 1
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary
Multiple failures, including delayed assessments, lack of senior review, inappropriate unit transfer, and a complete CT scanning service failure, led to critical deterioration and suboptimal surgical management.
View full coroner's concerns
During_the course of the_inquest the evidence revealed mattersgiving_rise to concern_In my opinion City 22nd The The there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken: In the circumstances it is statutory duty to report to you. my _ in being seen both by Nursing Staff and Doctors in A & E. in being seen by Surgical Team after referral to them at 05.30 hours on the July 2013. in ongoing assessment by the Surgical Team when he started to deteriorate and no Surgical Team member was available to respond to the calls for help from the Nursing Staff at the Acute Medical Unit: (2) No early senior review.

(3) Inappropriate transfer to an Acute Medical Unit when he should either have stayed in A & E or gone to a Surgical Unit: The concern was that he was effectively unsafe and in an inappropriate clinical environment (4) Shere wasea failure t0 appreciate his deterioration largely because he was not seen by the Surgical Team in spite of requests that he should be seen: (5) Even though his acute abdomen had been diagnosed at 07.00 hours there was a failure to appreciate the dangers of his condition.

(6) His clinical management was suboptimal. There was & completely inadequate Ward Round Note made at the hurried ward round between 08.30 and 08.40 hours_ This left the Nursing Staff in the Acute Medical Unit unable to look after this surgical patient efficiently: (8) Failure to prepare Mr: Palmer for surgery which it had been acknowledged he needed urgently (9) Failure to arrange an emergency theatre for him (CEPOD): (10) A complete failure of the CT scanning service at this Hospital. This led Mr. Palmer to be denied a CT scan which would certainly have diagnosed his condition. This failure arose because

Report sections

Investigation and inquest
On the July 2013 commenced an investigation into the death of Stephen John PALMER investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 24" January 2014. conclusion of the was (see attached Record of Inquest) inquest
Circumstances of the death
See Record of Inquest
Action should be taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you AND your organisation have the power to take such action;

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Report details

Reference
2014-0072
Date of report
25 February 2014
Coroner
Veronica Hamilton-Deeley
Coroner area
Brighton & Hove

Responses identified

Responses identified 0 of 1
1 response not yet linked

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 22 Apr 2014 (estimated).

Sent to

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals

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