Jean Gillespie
PFD Report
All Responded
Ref: 2015-0419
All 1 response received
· Deadline: 28 Dec 2015
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
Senior care staff lacked awareness of a resident's life-threatening condition and medication, failing to appreciate the urgency of re-ordering supplies. Care home records also lacked critical information about the condition.
View full coroner's concerns
1. The inquest heard that a senior member of the care staff with responsibility for administering medication to residents and for re-ordering supplies of medication did not know that the deceased suffered from myasthenia gravis, nor was this a condition she had heard of before.
2. When supplies of the necessary medication were about to expire she did seek to re-order supplies. When they did not materialise she did not appreciate the urgency the situation demanded until symptoms became evident.
3. I am concerned that irrespective of whether this is a care home rather than a nursing home that staff with responsibility for administering and / or re-ordering supplies of medication for potentially life threatening conditions are aware of the conditions and what the medication is prescribed for so that staff can then react accordingly.
4. Further, consideration of the care home records made no reference to the name of the condition, the symptoms that can materialise, nor what the prescribed medication was for. A member of staff previously unfamiliar with this patient who may have responsibility for administering her medication would not have been able to familiarise themselves with the necessary knowledge from a perusal of the care home records and I am concerned there is a risk of future deaths were this situation to be replicated.
At the conclusion of the inquest, I indicated to the Properly Interested Persons that I proposed to write to the Trust by way of a report in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
2. When supplies of the necessary medication were about to expire she did seek to re-order supplies. When they did not materialise she did not appreciate the urgency the situation demanded until symptoms became evident.
3. I am concerned that irrespective of whether this is a care home rather than a nursing home that staff with responsibility for administering and / or re-ordering supplies of medication for potentially life threatening conditions are aware of the conditions and what the medication is prescribed for so that staff can then react accordingly.
4. Further, consideration of the care home records made no reference to the name of the condition, the symptoms that can materialise, nor what the prescribed medication was for. A member of staff previously unfamiliar with this patient who may have responsibility for administering her medication would not have been able to familiarise themselves with the necessary knowledge from a perusal of the care home records and I am concerned there is a risk of future deaths were this situation to be replicated.
At the conclusion of the inquest, I indicated to the Properly Interested Persons that I proposed to write to the Trust by way of a report in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
Responses
Action Taken
Senior Care Assistants received further medication training and competency assessments, including a supervision after the inquest. The new manager introduced handover and medication count down sheets for improved communication and stock control. (AI summary)
Senior Care Assistants received further medication training and competency assessments, including a supervision after the inquest. The new manager introduced handover and medication count down sheets for improved communication and stock control. (AI summary)
View full response
Dear Mr Wilson write in response to the Regulation 28 report received following the inquest for Jean Dorothy Gillispie. can confirm the following actions have been taken to help prevent future deaths. Senior Care Assistants in the home have received further medication training & Competency assessments, Supervisions have been completed highlighting the importance of ordering, receiving and dispensing medications, following the inquest a further supervision has been completed to reinforce the polices and procedures of medication management: The manager took sole responsibility for managing the medication at the time of the incident to ensure no residents ran out of their medication. The Home Manager completes medication audits to ensure any issues identified can be dealt with swiftly: There are tools available to assist staff with concerns or medications/conditions they are not familiar with i.e BNF book, external professionals and our internal Quality team. Each member of staff is accountable & responsible for their own actions and how they implement/use the tools & resources available to them: Registered Olfice; Maria Mallaband Care Group Lid Westcourt Gelderd Road Leeds LS12 6DB Tel: 0113 238 2690 Fax: 0113 238 2691 email: admint mmcgco.uk INVESTORS WwYW maria mallaband co.uk IN PEOPLE Company Number; 03135910 The
Alexandra Court has a new manager who has introduced handover sheets and medication count down sheets; this will assist the staff to recognise any issues or shortfalls with medication stock control and using the handover sheets to document actions taken or needed will improve communication.
Alexandra Court has a new manager who has introduced handover sheets and medication count down sheets; this will assist the staff to recognise any issues or shortfalls with medication stock control and using the handover sheets to document actions taken or needed will improve communication.
Sent To
- Alexandra Court Care Home
Response Status
Linked responses
1 of 1
56-Day Deadline
28 Dec 2015
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 15 May 2015 I opened an investigation into the death of Jean Dorothy Gillespie aged 89 years. The inquest concluded on 28TH October 2015.
The conclusion of the Coroner as to the death was a Narrative verdict: Jean Gillespie died of bronchopneumonia, the onset of which was contributed to by the effects of not receiving prescribed medication she required to control the potentially life threatening condition Myasthenia gravis.
The medical cause of death was:
1 (a) Acute cardiorespiratory failure 1 (b) Bronchopneumonia 1 (c) Myasthenia gravis
2 Senile Multi Organ Involution. .
The conclusion of the Coroner as to the death was a Narrative verdict: Jean Gillespie died of bronchopneumonia, the onset of which was contributed to by the effects of not receiving prescribed medication she required to control the potentially life threatening condition Myasthenia gravis.
The medical cause of death was:
1 (a) Acute cardiorespiratory failure 1 (b) Bronchopneumonia 1 (c) Myasthenia gravis
2 Senile Multi Organ Involution. .
Circumstances of the Death
Residing at a care home for respite care since 9th April 2015 the last of a supply of Jean Gillespie’s prescribed medication Pyridostigmine was administered to her on the morning of 25th April 2015. At approximately 5pm on 26 April 2015 she was observed to be suffering from symptoms attributable to the condition Myasthenia gravis. She was taken to hospital but her condition deteriorated and she passed away at 22.26 hours on 8 May 2015.
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.