Barbara White

PFD Report Historic (No Identified Response) Ref: 2014-0015
Date of Report 13 January 2014
Coroner Joanne Kearsley
Response Deadline est. 10 March 2014
No published response · Over 2 years old
Response Status
Responses 0 of 1
56-Day Deadline 10 Mar 2014
Over 2 years old — no identified published response
About PFD responses

Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.

Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Coroner's Concerns
There was a lack of clinical observations for a period of 12 hours on the 9th December: In addition no nursing observations were carried out during this period of time_ 2, At 6 am Mrs White's PARS score was recorded as 2 when this should have been 5 which if correctly recorded would have led to medical intervention. There was a shortage of staff on duty on the Surgical Unit on the night of the 9th December: There was only one auxillary nurse who was not familiar with the Surgical Unit: This Unit is one step down from the High Dependency Unit and the patients require a high level of nursing care_ However , there was a lack of escalation of this issue to the Night Nurse Practitioner. There was a lack of information in the patient's medical records following the handover from the staff to the night staff. Following the review of Mrs White on the 9th December when further tests had been requested there was a lack of any further clinical consideration and no escalation to a consultant; At the Inquest heard evidence from Di who was the SHO on during the night and who had received the handover from the day staff. Her evidence was the she had no recollection of Mrs White being mentioned at the handover and was unaware that there were outstanding investigations.
Action Should Be Taken
believe that this level of information should be mandatory in all Care establishments and in my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe your organisation; has the power to take such action:
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On the 04.01.2013 commenced an investigation into the death of Barbara White date of birth 12.06.1935. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 05.11.2013. The conclusion was that the deceased died as a result of Natural Causes_
Circumstances of the Death
On the 8th December 2012 the deceased presented to Tameside Hospital with symptoms consistent with biliary colic. She was assessed and a treatment was in place_ On the afternoon of the 9th December 2012 her clinical presentation began to deteriorate and she was reviewed by a doctor: Blood tests, X-rays and observations were requested, There was no subsequent review of tests requested, nor were any nursing observations carried out. At 6am on the 1Oth December when nursing observations were carried out the PARS score was incorrectly recorded and there was therefore a failure to note a significant deterioration in Mrs White's condition. At 07.05am her PARS score was 0 and she required emergency intervention Following this her condition deteriorated and despite extensive intervention by the Intensive Unit she died on the 2nd January 2013
Related Inquiry Recommendations

Public inquiry recommendations addressing similar themes

Hepatologist Oversight and Fibroscan Access
Infected Blood Inquiry
Delayed Recognition of Deterioration
Specialist Hepatology Centre Access
Infected Blood Inquiry
Delayed Recognition of Deterioration
Fibroscan Every Six Months
Infected Blood Inquiry
Delayed Recognition of Deterioration
Named Hepatology Nurse Specialist
Infected Blood Inquiry
Delayed Recognition of Deterioration
Annual GP Appointment for Co-morbidities
Infected Blood Inquiry
Delayed Recognition of Deterioration
Assessment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Infected Blood Inquiry
Delayed Recognition of Deterioration
Quarterly assessment of staffing levels against population needs
Brook House Inquiry
Care home staffing levels
Ensure senior manager presence and accessibility to staff
Brook House Inquiry
Care home staffing levels
On-Call Consultant Display
Hyponatraemia Inquiry
Staff rota communication
Staffing and skills mix review
Vale of Leven Inquiry
Care home staffing levels

Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.