Claire Lilley
PFD Report
All Responded
Ref: 2020-0297
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Mental Health related deaths
Suicide (from 2015)
All 1 response received
· Deadline: 5 Mar 2021
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
Risk assessments for Mental Health Act patients on Section 17 leave are fragmented across different records and tools, lacking a central, formulated document for comprehensive clinician review.
View full coroner's concerns
(1) Individuals who are the subject of detainment under the Mental Health Act are risk assessed at numerous times. For those that are on Section 17 home leave, they are additionally assessed prior to leaving the ward on each occasion. In addition, risks are also reviewed on the regular multi-disciplinary ward rounds.
(2) However, such assessments are not centralised in any one place – there is no central formulation. Reviews by any clinician would have to cover 3 or 4 different entries by way of example: the risk assessment page, the MDT notes, the psychology entries (although they, per se, do not enter risks assessments).
(3) The Court’s expert confirmed that such a centralisation/ formulation (supported by the Route Cause Analysis report), would assist in reviewing an individual’s risk and allowing ward staff to see the wider input in one place.
(4) Training has been implemented by the Trust to assist staff in formulating risk, a process that was in place at the time of Claire’s death. However, there is no central repository/formulation of the outcomes of those assessments. Different teams continue to use different tools; there is no stand-alone document.
(5) Consideration should therefore be given to the creation of a centralised, formulated, risk document to be entered upon by all clinicians irrespective of their own speciality.
(2) However, such assessments are not centralised in any one place – there is no central formulation. Reviews by any clinician would have to cover 3 or 4 different entries by way of example: the risk assessment page, the MDT notes, the psychology entries (although they, per se, do not enter risks assessments).
(3) The Court’s expert confirmed that such a centralisation/ formulation (supported by the Route Cause Analysis report), would assist in reviewing an individual’s risk and allowing ward staff to see the wider input in one place.
(4) Training has been implemented by the Trust to assist staff in formulating risk, a process that was in place at the time of Claire’s death. However, there is no central repository/formulation of the outcomes of those assessments. Different teams continue to use different tools; there is no stand-alone document.
(5) Consideration should therefore be given to the creation of a centralised, formulated, risk document to be entered upon by all clinicians irrespective of their own speciality.
Responses
Action Planned
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust will require consistent recording of service users' and carers' feedback in the MDT template, make risk decisions at every MDT meeting, assign responsibility for updating risk assessments after each MDT, and update the Clinical Risk Assessment and Management Policy accordingly. The Medical Director and Director of Nursing will communicate these standards to all clinicians, facilitated by a team approach to risk management led by Matrons. (AI summary)
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust will require consistent recording of service users' and carers' feedback in the MDT template, make risk decisions at every MDT meeting, assign responsibility for updating risk assessments after each MDT, and update the Clinical Risk Assessment and Management Policy accordingly. The Medical Director and Director of Nursing will communicate these standards to all clinicians, facilitated by a team approach to risk management led by Matrons. (AI summary)
View full response
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(5) Consideration should therefore be given to the creation of a centralised, formulated, risk document to be entered upon by all clinicians irrespective of their own speciality: We have explored options for the creation of a centralised, formulated, risk document to be entered upon by all clinicians irrespective of the own speciality. We already have an established centralised document that all clinicians are expected to complete on the electronic health record, RiO, before multidisciplinary meetings (MDT): It is known as the MDT template: We also have a Risk Information section on RiO where risk assessments are all recorded in a Risk Assessment document: Two years ago we separated the MDT template and the Risk Assessment document The rationale for this was so that all professionals could update the MDT template ahead of MDT meetings and that all professionals could take ownership of updating the Risk Assessment document at the point of risks changing: In practice the Risk Assessment tends to be updated predominantly by medics as part of the MDT review (but this is affected by system and organisational factors). The Risk Assessment document will now be the centralised document for all professionals to document all risks immediately. To support, a new mandatory section will be added to the Risk Assessment document in Rio. This section will be a formulation summary: This summary will then automatically pull through to show on the MDT template and the inpatient care plan_ To further address your concerns we will be focusing on ensuring that the Risk Assessment document is optimised by ward teams and that the MDT template utilisation is improved for wider discussions of the picture of risks for an individual. We will as a result: Reinforce that all professionals are responsible for taking ownership for updating the Risk Assessment document_ This address an over reliance by multi-professional teams (nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists etc) on Consultants to update the Risk Assessment document_ This means that in addition to escalating risks to the Consultant that all professionals must document risks at the time they are identified. It means that all professionals will be constantly thinking about risks and updating the Risk Assessment document when happen. This will give a much better and clearer picture of risk events rather than that which might be achieved a formulation alone_ 2 Reinforce the use of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) template where all involved professionals are required to input their feedback ahead of an MDT meeting to include their actions about documented risks that they have identified and added to the Risk Assessment document: However this needs to remain separate to the Risk Assessment document as it is not realistic for the weekly MDT meeting to update, summarise and state what might improve or worsen the risk: Currently the MDT template is not being used as effectively as it could be in a meaningful way, evidenced by internal transfers and this is being addressed with teams to reduce the variation will things
3. Emphasis be put on seeking information and feedback from service users and their families and carers, especially after periods of leave: We will require this to be consistently recorded in the Carer's view in the MDT template following periods of all leave: A decision will be made about the risk at every MDT meeting: The MDT meeting will record as an action, who present at the MDT is going to update the risk assessment for a service user and then ensure that it is done: The allocated clinician will update the Rio Risk Assessment and associate management plan in the care plan for every risk identified after the MDT so it captures what was discussed and agreed. 5_ To facilitate this we will remove from the current Risk Management Policy that it is the Responsible Clinician responsibility to ensure that a clinical risk assessment and clinical risk management plan is made before the decision is taken to discharge a person or grant leave. Currently the expectation is that the primary nurse does this but it is not working effectively when the primary nurse is in the ward round. By making it the responsibility of a professional allocated at the time of the MDT meeting, the expectation that this happens immediately after the MDT meeting will ensue that the Risk Assessment document and associate management plan in the Care Plan is updated contemporaneously_ 6 If anything changes in the period between MDTs, as stated, all clinicians will be expected to exercise their individual responsibility to personally update the Risk Assessment 7 The Clinical Risk Assessment and Management Policy will be updated to reflect these standards. 8_ The Medical Director and Director of Nursing will write to all clinicians about these agreed standards This will be further facilitated through a team approach to risk management led by the Matrons_ To conclude, am grateful for your report which has ensured that additional measures are instituted so lessons are learned from the death of Ms Lilley.
(5) Consideration should therefore be given to the creation of a centralised, formulated, risk document to be entered upon by all clinicians irrespective of their own speciality: We have explored options for the creation of a centralised, formulated, risk document to be entered upon by all clinicians irrespective of the own speciality. We already have an established centralised document that all clinicians are expected to complete on the electronic health record, RiO, before multidisciplinary meetings (MDT): It is known as the MDT template: We also have a Risk Information section on RiO where risk assessments are all recorded in a Risk Assessment document: Two years ago we separated the MDT template and the Risk Assessment document The rationale for this was so that all professionals could update the MDT template ahead of MDT meetings and that all professionals could take ownership of updating the Risk Assessment document at the point of risks changing: In practice the Risk Assessment tends to be updated predominantly by medics as part of the MDT review (but this is affected by system and organisational factors). The Risk Assessment document will now be the centralised document for all professionals to document all risks immediately. To support, a new mandatory section will be added to the Risk Assessment document in Rio. This section will be a formulation summary: This summary will then automatically pull through to show on the MDT template and the inpatient care plan_ To further address your concerns we will be focusing on ensuring that the Risk Assessment document is optimised by ward teams and that the MDT template utilisation is improved for wider discussions of the picture of risks for an individual. We will as a result: Reinforce that all professionals are responsible for taking ownership for updating the Risk Assessment document_ This address an over reliance by multi-professional teams (nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists etc) on Consultants to update the Risk Assessment document_ This means that in addition to escalating risks to the Consultant that all professionals must document risks at the time they are identified. It means that all professionals will be constantly thinking about risks and updating the Risk Assessment document when happen. This will give a much better and clearer picture of risk events rather than that which might be achieved a formulation alone_ 2 Reinforce the use of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) template where all involved professionals are required to input their feedback ahead of an MDT meeting to include their actions about documented risks that they have identified and added to the Risk Assessment document: However this needs to remain separate to the Risk Assessment document as it is not realistic for the weekly MDT meeting to update, summarise and state what might improve or worsen the risk: Currently the MDT template is not being used as effectively as it could be in a meaningful way, evidenced by internal transfers and this is being addressed with teams to reduce the variation will things
3. Emphasis be put on seeking information and feedback from service users and their families and carers, especially after periods of leave: We will require this to be consistently recorded in the Carer's view in the MDT template following periods of all leave: A decision will be made about the risk at every MDT meeting: The MDT meeting will record as an action, who present at the MDT is going to update the risk assessment for a service user and then ensure that it is done: The allocated clinician will update the Rio Risk Assessment and associate management plan in the care plan for every risk identified after the MDT so it captures what was discussed and agreed. 5_ To facilitate this we will remove from the current Risk Management Policy that it is the Responsible Clinician responsibility to ensure that a clinical risk assessment and clinical risk management plan is made before the decision is taken to discharge a person or grant leave. Currently the expectation is that the primary nurse does this but it is not working effectively when the primary nurse is in the ward round. By making it the responsibility of a professional allocated at the time of the MDT meeting, the expectation that this happens immediately after the MDT meeting will ensue that the Risk Assessment document and associate management plan in the Care Plan is updated contemporaneously_ 6 If anything changes in the period between MDTs, as stated, all clinicians will be expected to exercise their individual responsibility to personally update the Risk Assessment 7 The Clinical Risk Assessment and Management Policy will be updated to reflect these standards. 8_ The Medical Director and Director of Nursing will write to all clinicians about these agreed standards This will be further facilitated through a team approach to risk management led by the Matrons_ To conclude, am grateful for your report which has ensured that additional measures are instituted so lessons are learned from the death of Ms Lilley.
Sent To
- Oxleas NHS Trust
Response Status
Linked responses
1 of 1
56-Day Deadline
5 Mar 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 16.7.2019 I commenced an investigation into the death of CLAIRE LILLEY, aged 38. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 30 November 2020. The conclusion of the inquest, before a jury, was a narrative conclusion which, in summary, was as follows:
Claire’s medical cause of death was: 1a Hypoxic Brain Injury 1b Hanging.
Claire died as a result of injuries sustained by hanging herself. While the main contributing factor leading to her hanging was her mental illness, on the ward, relevant information was diffuse and there was no central formulation of the most pertinent information relevant to risk. This became especially relevant when several members of ward staff were on leave and there was insufficient management cover to review risk.
Claire’s medical cause of death was: 1a Hypoxic Brain Injury 1b Hanging.
Claire died as a result of injuries sustained by hanging herself. While the main contributing factor leading to her hanging was her mental illness, on the ward, relevant information was diffuse and there was no central formulation of the most pertinent information relevant to risk. This became especially relevant when several members of ward staff were on leave and there was insufficient management cover to review risk.
Circumstances of the Death
Claire was detained undersection 3 of the Mental Health Act and admitted to Avery Ward on 22 October 2018, via the Queen Elizabeth Hospital following a significant overdose. During her admission she was diagnosed with a severe depression with psychotic symptoms in November 2018 and an additional diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder in January 2019.
She commenced various stages of ward leave in 2018 from accompanied to unescorted Section 17 overnight leave to her home. The status of that home leave and the anxieties she felt on leave varied. Claire gave a report to ward staff that although there were difficult times, overall the outcome was positive. (Claire’s mother) considered that certainly by the end of January/ early February 2019, those visits were not positive, resulting in increased anxiety for Claire.
There was no direct contact or proactively sought feedback, by staff, certainly after the 6 February. On the 6th, attended the ward and fed back her increasingly anxious views of home leave. A review on the 6th would, in the opinion of the appointed expert, have assisted in assessing her and was a missed opportunity. It was also confirmed that Claire’s risk assessment was not discussed with and there was no centralised document reviewing her risk – ‘no formulation of that risk’.
On 12 February, whilst on Section 17 overnight leave, Claire hung herself at home. She was found by her mother. Despite further measures, she sadly did not survive.
She commenced various stages of ward leave in 2018 from accompanied to unescorted Section 17 overnight leave to her home. The status of that home leave and the anxieties she felt on leave varied. Claire gave a report to ward staff that although there were difficult times, overall the outcome was positive. (Claire’s mother) considered that certainly by the end of January/ early February 2019, those visits were not positive, resulting in increased anxiety for Claire.
There was no direct contact or proactively sought feedback, by staff, certainly after the 6 February. On the 6th, attended the ward and fed back her increasingly anxious views of home leave. A review on the 6th would, in the opinion of the appointed expert, have assisted in assessing her and was a missed opportunity. It was also confirmed that Claire’s risk assessment was not discussed with and there was no centralised document reviewing her risk – ‘no formulation of that risk’.
On 12 February, whilst on Section 17 overnight leave, Claire hung herself at home. She was found by her mother. Despite further measures, she sadly did not survive.
Inquest Conclusion
Claire’s medical cause of death was: 1a Hypoxic Brain Injury 1b Hanging.
Claire died as a result of injuries sustained by hanging herself. While the main contributing factor leading to her hanging was her mental illness, on the ward, relevant information was diffuse and there was no central formulation of the most pertinent information relevant to risk. This became especially relevant when several members of ward staff were on leave and there was insufficient management cover to review risk.
Claire died as a result of injuries sustained by hanging herself. While the main contributing factor leading to her hanging was her mental illness, on the ward, relevant information was diffuse and there was no central formulation of the most pertinent information relevant to risk. This became especially relevant when several members of ward staff were on leave and there was insufficient management cover to review risk.
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.