Macaulay Wilson
PFD Report
All Responded
Ref: 2021-0146
Community health care and emergency services related deaths
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
All 1 response received
· Deadline: 2 Jul 2021
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
A GP practice used imprecise language when referring a patient, failing to specify a catheter *change* as instructed by the hospital, which led to incorrect care being provided by district nurses.
View full coroner's concerns
(I should say that I heard at inquest that Homerton University Hospital has formulated an action plan to minimise the risk of recurrence.)
The Homerton University Hospital urology clinical nurse specialist wrote to your practice on 18 February 2019, and included within the letter a request that you arrange for district nurses to change Mr Wilson’s indwelling catheter in 12 weeks.
A doctor from your practice did consider the letter, did action it and did write to the district nurses, but did not include a specific request for catheter change (as opposed to catheter care, which does not include change of the catheter).
It seems that your doctors’ use of language in this situation would benefit from further consideration.
The Homerton University Hospital urology clinical nurse specialist wrote to your practice on 18 February 2019, and included within the letter a request that you arrange for district nurses to change Mr Wilson’s indwelling catheter in 12 weeks.
A doctor from your practice did consider the letter, did action it and did write to the district nurses, but did not include a specific request for catheter change (as opposed to catheter care, which does not include change of the catheter).
It seems that your doctors’ use of language in this situation would benefit from further consideration.
Responses
Action Taken
The practice has implemented a system to highlight correspondence with instructions to wider clinical team members, included a copy of the original letter with onward referrals, and is undertaking an audit of patients with catheter products on prescriptions. They have also created an electronic template for patients with new indwelling catheters and an electronic alert to prompt checks when a patient is prescribed catheter products. (AI summary)
The practice has implemented a system to highlight correspondence with instructions to wider clinical team members, included a copy of the original letter with onward referrals, and is undertaking an audit of patients with catheter products on prescriptions. They have also created an electronic template for patients with new indwelling catheters and an electronic alert to prompt checks when a patient is prescribed catheter products. (AI summary)
View full response
London's Regulatlon 28 Prevention ot Future to HM Senior Coroner for Inner North In response concerning Mr Macaulay Wilson Death (PFD) Report of 7 May 2021 North death of Mr Wilson, HM Senior Coroner for Inner Following the inquest touching on the was a5 a result of urosepsis secondary to a Fondom Mary Hassell, concluded that Mr Wilsor"s death it should have been changed every to change his indwelling catheter for almost a when and 1b long term indwelling failure of death was confirmed as Ia urosepsis 12 weeks. The medical cause catheter not changed since October 2019. the to Lower Clapton Group Practice on Concerns were raised within a 28 PFD report from the specialist team to the GP Conneranrccarcy with which mportadsnror mutiong teameefponsibe fofChe delivery Of the was then communicated to the district nursing team The Coroner noted in practice plan in relation to Mr Wilson"s indwelling cathetee . team'$ instructions proposed treatment when a GP conveved the specialist particular a loss of detail at the replaced the words catheter 'change'_ 2019,such that the words catheter 'care' of 18 February Dr behalf of Lower Clapton Group Practice; the practice parteeds Dr Mr Wilsonc The practice notes On condolences to the family and friends of like to express their deepest undertaken the following activities to seriousness of these events and in response has the recurrence: to ensure that when the practice receives Lower Clapton Group Practice has introduced a svstem members of the wider clinical team Correspondence containing instructions directed towaedsedehentiestrtetions will be clearly fovoevedin a patients care, such as district nursing the relevant _ referral to ensure there is highlighted tierapy ofehe original letter will accompany any onward patients who have We are undertaking an audit of all no loss of information or message clarity; that we clearly record in their notes how catheter products on their prescriptions We will ensure responsible for doing this We have frequently their catheter should be changed which servlce is the above data. This within our clinical system to aid us In capturing written an electronic template catheter to ensure we have accurate will be completed for all patients with a new indwelling the identity of the inforaatom in connection with catheter care, catheter change freatenwh patient Is identified as electronic alert which activates when a responsible team; We have written an This will prompt users to check beingin receipt of catheter products (from their prescription hicl) of the service holds patient's catheter was last changed and identify which part for when a responsibility for this all members of the team including the person responsible for We have communicated the above to have been incorporated into coding incoming patient related correspondence these processes team about this case to inductoon program We have informed our local medicines managementt can our within their monthly newsletter so that other practices ensure they can disseminate this risk incident via the Natlonal Reporting ensure a similar event does not occur: We have reported the wide EMIS have informed the CCG We are amending the City and Hackney Learning System housebound and vulnerable patients to include parameters template which is used when visiting increase risk such as catheters and catheter change as well as other issues which may such a5 pressure sores falls_ has also been be passed to the CQC, expanding on these activities report Practice is grateful for the opportunity the Regulation 28 report has proveided Lower Clapton Group these activities will not only reassure HM Senior to review strengthen our processes: We hope year; Regulation practice point Iwould Jand prevent = and and and and and and patient + and and =
Coroner of our commitment to community we serve: safe care but also Mr Wilson's and wider Dr GP Principle Date SUxe 2ozi , Dr GP Principle Date Zyt]us 2031 delivering family the _En
Coroner of our commitment to community we serve: safe care but also Mr Wilson's and wider Dr GP Principle Date SUxe 2ozi , Dr GP Principle Date Zyt]us 2031 delivering family the _En
Sent To
- Lower Clapton Group Practice
Response Status
Linked responses
1 of 1
56-Day Deadline
2 Jul 2021
All responses received
About PFD responses
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 8 October 2020 I commenced an investigation into the death of Macaulay Wilson, aged 87 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest earlier today.
I recorded a medical cause of death of:
1a urosepsis 1b long term indwelling catheter not changed since October 2019 2 Alzheimer’s dementia, cerebrovascular accident, chronic kidney disease, bladder cancer and prostate cancer
I made a determination at inquest that Mr Wilson died because a failure to change his indwelling catheter for almost a year caused urosepsis. The catheter should have been changed every 12 weeks.
I recorded a medical cause of death of:
1a urosepsis 1b long term indwelling catheter not changed since October 2019 2 Alzheimer’s dementia, cerebrovascular accident, chronic kidney disease, bladder cancer and prostate cancer
I made a determination at inquest that Mr Wilson died because a failure to change his indwelling catheter for almost a year caused urosepsis. The catheter should have been changed every 12 weeks.
Circumstances of the Death
Mr Wilson had an indwelling urinary catheter fitted to assist in the management of his bladder cancer.
The Homerton University Hospital urology department failed to risk assess his catheter change requirement and so did not recognise that this was too complex medically for district nurses in the community and should be dealt with by the department.
Then it cancelled an appointment (because of the COVID19 pandemic) made for 27 April 2020 following a GP referral, and failed to make a plan to bring Mr Wilson back.
And finally, his general practitioner having referred him a second time on 31 July 2020, the HUH urology department failed to make another appointment.
Meanwhile, the Homerton University Hospital district nurses visited Mr Wilson every week for catheter care, but never enquired as to whether there had been any catheter change.
The Homerton University Hospital urology department failed to risk assess his catheter change requirement and so did not recognise that this was too complex medically for district nurses in the community and should be dealt with by the department.
Then it cancelled an appointment (because of the COVID19 pandemic) made for 27 April 2020 following a GP referral, and failed to make a plan to bring Mr Wilson back.
And finally, his general practitioner having referred him a second time on 31 July 2020, the HUH urology department failed to make another appointment.
Meanwhile, the Homerton University Hospital district nurses visited Mr Wilson every week for catheter care, but never enquired as to whether there had been any catheter change.
Copies Sent To
Dr , medical director, Homerton Hospital
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.