Jean Waldron

PFD Report All Responded Ref: 2026-0009
Date of Report 8 January 2026
Coroner David Reid
Coroner Area Worcestershire
Response Deadline est. 5 March 2026
All 1 response received · Deadline: 5 Mar 2026
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
An agency team leader disregarded clear instructions by providing inappropriate wound care, suggesting inadequate training on care limits and adherence to specialist medical advice for carers.
View full coroner's concerns
In her evidence at the inquest a carer from your agency, who was a Team Leader, gave evidence that: (a) she had read and understood an email from the District Nurse Clinical Lead, dated 15.1.25, which made clear that carers should not provide any care in relation to Mrs. Waldron's pressure sore as they did not have the correct licence to provide wound care; and (b) despite that clear instruction, she had on 3 separate occasions thereafter removed soiled wound dressings from the pressure sore and attempted to clean the wound with saline and gauze because she felt that it was in the deceased's "best interests" so to do. The lead Tissue Viability Nurse who gave evidence at the inquest said that the use of gauze was inappropriate and could have led to further adverse complications with the pressure sore. It is particularly concerning that a carer who was a Team Leader acted in the way described, and suggests that carers employed by your agency may not have received adequate training about: (a) the limits of the care which they are able to provide; and (b) the need to accept and follow advice given by specialist doctors and nurses at all times.
Responses
Ignite Health and Homecare Services Other
8 Jan 2026
Action Taken
The agency has reinforced guidance to staff clarifying that wound care is outside their scope, issued formal reminders about escalating clinical concerns, and reviewed supervision processes to ensure adherence to scope-of-practice boundaries. (AI summary)
View full response
Good Morning, Regulation 28 Response – Prevention of Future Deaths Organisation: Ignite Health and Homecare Deceased: Mrs Waldron Regulation 28 Report dated: 08/01/2026 This response is provided pursuant to paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and addresses the matters of concern raised by the Coroner. Matters of Concern The Coroner expressed concern that:  a carer, who was a Team Leader, undertook wound-related activity despite clear instruction not to do so; and  this may indicate a lack of understanding by carers regarding the limits of their role and the need to follow specialist clinical advice. Agency Response The agency has carefully considered the evidence heard at the inquest and the Coroner’s concerns. The evidence confirms that on 15 January 2025, the District Nurse Clinical Lead issued a clear written instruction stating that carers were not authorised to provide any care in relation to Mrs Waldron’s pressure sore, as wound care fell outside the scope of practice and licensing of the agency’s staƯ. The Team Leader who gave evidence confirmed that she had read and understood this instruction. This demonstrates that the agency’s communication, governance, and escalation systems were eƯective and that staƯ were aware of the limits of care they were permitted to provide. The actions taken on three occasions thereafter were undertaken in direct contravention of that instruction, outside agency policy and training, and were not directed, authorised, or endorsed by the organisation. These actions were based on the individual’s personal judgement rather than any deficiency in the agency’s systems, training, or governance. The evidence from the Lead Tissue Viability Nurse further confirms that the actions taken were clinically inappropriate, reinforcing the necessity of carers adhering strictly to scope-of-practice boundaries — a requirement already embedded within the agency’s policies and training framework. Action Taken / Action to be Taken

Without admission of fault, and in order to further reduce the risk of recurrence, the agency has taken and/or will take the following steps:
1. Scope-of-Practice Reinforcement All staƯ have received reinforced guidance clarifying that wound care and pressure sore management are outside the scope of carer practice and must only be undertaken by appropriately qualified persons.
2. Escalation and Accountability Reminder Formal reminders have been issued confirming that where clinical concerns arise, staƯ must escalate to district nursing or medical professionals and must not act independently outside authorised duties.
3. Governance Oversight Existing supervision and audit processes have been reviewed to ensure continued oversight of adherence to scope-of-practice boundaries. The agency is satisfied that these actions appropriately address the Coroner’s concerns and further strengthen safeguards already in place. Kind Regards, Operations Director Integrity, Accountability, Vision, Compassion, Purpose, Solution-Focus
Sent To
  • Ignite Health and Homecare Services
Response Status
Linked responses 1 of 1
56-Day Deadline 5 Mar 2026
All responses received
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Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.

Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 25 March 2025 I commenced an investigation and opened an inquest into the death of Jean Alice WALDRON aged 79. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 07 January 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was that Mrs. Waldron "died from natural causes, to which the effects of a long-standing traumatic spinal cord injury and a pressure ulcer contributed."
Circumstances of the Death
Towards the end of 2024 Jean Waldron, who lived with a long-standing cervical spinal cord injury and a more recent diagnosis of vascular dementia, developed a sacral pressure ulcer, which was monitored and treated by district nurses. Around the beginning of March 2025 she developed a chest infection. Despite treatment, she continued steadily to decline, and died at her home in Worcester on 12.3.25.
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.