Jackson Mitchell
PFD Report
Partially Responded
Ref: 2014-0468
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
The death was caused by liver damage from parenteral nutrition extravasation, likely due to a low-lying umbilical venous catheter, highlighting risks associated with currently acceptable UVC placement practices.
View full coroner's concerns
In the circumstances it is my slatutory duty to report to you:
Responses
Action Taken
The Trust conducted an internal review, shared findings at paediatric governance meetings, and introduced a new X-ray review checklist. Regionally, guidelines are being developed (King's Lynn is already following them), and nationally, NHS England and BAPM are working on new guidance for central venous lines, with publication expected in autumn 2015. (AI summary)
The Trust conducted an internal review, shared findings at paediatric governance meetings, and introduced a new X-ray review checklist. Regionally, guidelines are being developed (King's Lynn is already following them), and nationally, NHS England and BAPM are working on new guidance for central venous lines, with publication expected in autumn 2015. (AI summary)
View full response
Dear Ms. Lake, Re: Regulation 28 report following the Inquest into the death of Jackson Sellers Mitchell Thank you for your letter of the &uh January 2015, which was received yesterday, requesting an immediate response to your Regulation 28 Report following the Inquest into the death of Jackson Sellers Mitchell; understand that you sent this report to the former Chief Executive on the 27uh October 2014 but unfortunately we have been unable to find any record of its receipt in the organisation, hence our unfortunate; lack of response. 'apologise that this failure to respond has occurred and would like to offer you my assurance that this matter was acted upon at the time by the clinical team involved and continues to be monitored by the Trust: have as a matter of urgency contacted all the relevant clinical staff and have requested an immediate update on the actions that were undertaken following the death of baby Jackson and have asked them to appraise me in detail of what has been done to ensure learning for the neonatal team within this Trust and across the wider NHS, An internal review took place within the Trust using root cause analysis approach and understand that this was presented at the Inquest. The report concluded with an action plan that focused on training and learning for staff at a local level and at a broader Network level. This action plan has since been followed up and expanded upon. Locally the learriing from the internal investigation and the outcome from the Inquest were discussed and shared at the paediatric governance meetings. new X-ray review checklist was introduced which requires that all X-rays undertaken have to be reviewed and signed by a senior clinician. This includes those X-rays which are taken to check on the position of lines and tubes. This will ensure that it will always be a senior clinician that approves the position of lines. Chair; Edward Libbey_ Chief Executive: Dorothy Hoseir #A Stonewaii Palron: Her Majesty The Queen muawatn JAN 2015 Terry Terry
19 January 2015 The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NKS Foundation Trust The learning from this incident was incorporated into the Regional Skills that took place on the &Ih October 2014 and will be addressed again this year at the next Skills which is due to take place on the 13t October 2015. In advance of any work that is being done nationallythe regional guidelines for umbilical venous catheterisation are currently being revised by at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital ad a draft set of guidelines has been circulated to all the paediatric teams (n the region for consultation and comment. Once those comments have all been reviewed and any amendments made, these guidelines will be subject to ratification and will be implemented throughout the region: In the interim, practice at King's Lynn is already in accordance with these new recommendations_ Nationally, the Patient Safety Lead for Maternity and the Newborn at NHS England, convened meeting in October last year in conjunction with the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) to discuss the formation of a small group to review current practice and formulate new national guidance The group is intending to review the literature on the matter and utilise the clinical experience of clinicians who have experienced difficulties with using venous lines, to produce Framework for practice for all central venous lines. The clinical aspect of this work will be led by BAPM but NHS England will support by providing any relevant safety facts and by assisting with the dissemination of the Framework once completed. understand that the working group will also incorporate a person with a link to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence SO that the Institute is fully aware of the recommendations of the working group: The working group will submit their report and recommendations to the membership of BAPM for comment before the final Framework is published and circulated. This is unlikely to occur before autumn 2015, hope that am able to assure you that this matter is under significant review locally, regionally and nationally and will ultimately result in new Framework for practice that will support healthcare professionals in managing this difficult area of care and treatment; It is hoped that this will ensure that the entire NHS learns from this tragic event and will improve the care and management of such vulnerable babies in the future. May apologise once again for our failure to provide you with a more timely response.
19 January 2015 The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NKS Foundation Trust The learning from this incident was incorporated into the Regional Skills that took place on the &Ih October 2014 and will be addressed again this year at the next Skills which is due to take place on the 13t October 2015. In advance of any work that is being done nationallythe regional guidelines for umbilical venous catheterisation are currently being revised by at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital ad a draft set of guidelines has been circulated to all the paediatric teams (n the region for consultation and comment. Once those comments have all been reviewed and any amendments made, these guidelines will be subject to ratification and will be implemented throughout the region: In the interim, practice at King's Lynn is already in accordance with these new recommendations_ Nationally, the Patient Safety Lead for Maternity and the Newborn at NHS England, convened meeting in October last year in conjunction with the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) to discuss the formation of a small group to review current practice and formulate new national guidance The group is intending to review the literature on the matter and utilise the clinical experience of clinicians who have experienced difficulties with using venous lines, to produce Framework for practice for all central venous lines. The clinical aspect of this work will be led by BAPM but NHS England will support by providing any relevant safety facts and by assisting with the dissemination of the Framework once completed. understand that the working group will also incorporate a person with a link to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence SO that the Institute is fully aware of the recommendations of the working group: The working group will submit their report and recommendations to the membership of BAPM for comment before the final Framework is published and circulated. This is unlikely to occur before autumn 2015, hope that am able to assure you that this matter is under significant review locally, regionally and nationally and will ultimately result in new Framework for practice that will support healthcare professionals in managing this difficult area of care and treatment; It is hoped that this will ensure that the entire NHS learns from this tragic event and will improve the care and management of such vulnerable babies in the future. May apologise once again for our failure to provide you with a more timely response.
Sent To
- NHS England
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust ›The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Response Status
Linked responses
1 of 3
56-Day Deadline
22 Dec 2014
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 12 May 2014 commenced an investigation into the death of JACKSON TERRY SELLERS MITCHELL, AGE 6 DAYS: The investigation concluded at the end of (he inquest on 15 OCTOBER 2014, medical cause of death was I(a)
Circumstances of the Death
Jackson was born prematurely at 31 weeks gestation at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn with a low birth weight of 1.78 kilograms. An umbilical venous catheter (UVC) was inserted to give parenteral nutrition feeding and fluid management A heart murmur was detected on the morning of 8 May 2014. On evening of 8 2014 Jackson developed abdominal distension: In the light of the clinical picture a diagnosis was made of necrotising enterocolitis. Evidence was given (hal in Ihe light of the presenting symptoms this was a reasonable diagnosis to make. A nasogastric tube was inserted to drain the fluids, Jackson was placed on nil by mouth and triple antibiolics were slarted: Jackson required cardio-pulmonary resuscitation Arrangements were made for transfer to Norfolk & Norwich Universily Hospital (NNUH) which occurred at 8.40 am on 9 May 2014_ A surgical drain was inserted and fluid was aspirated,The neonatal team at NNUH felt the presentation was due to The May milky extravasation of tolal parenteral nutrition solution and not necrotising enterocolilis large amount of fluid was drained before and after Jackson's transfer to the NNUH; The UVC was removed. Jackson continued to deteriorate and he died at 05.05 on 10 May 2014. Post Mortem Report gives the cause of death as Intraperitoneal extravasation of parenteral nutrition solution b) Umbilical vein catheterisation 2. Prematurity: The Post Mortem identified damage to Jackson's liver compatible with injury from the parenteral nutrition solution, which is currently deemed to be a rare" complication. There was no evidence of direct vessel perforation from the umbilical venous catheter tip. CORoNERS CONCERNS During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken: In the circumstances it is my slatutory duty to report to you: The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows The damage found to Jackson's liver at post mortem does not appear lo be the tip of the catheter but from the concentrated feeding fluid that was passing through it. Evidence was given Ihat the ideal placement for a UVC tip is at the level of the diaphragm at approximately T9-T10 vertebral level. The UVC in this case was found to be in a lower lying position, but one which is presently acceptable to 80% of Doctors_ There is a presenlly unpublished study (rom Southampton which found 16 cases of extravasation of fluid from UVC over a 2 year period Extravasation was shown following routine screening of ultra sound scans, allhough in the study there were no fatalities_ Most of the complications in the study occurred with low lying catheters. Further investigation is being carried out into the positioning of catheters and problems of extravasation of the fluid from UVC. It is underslood NHS England are looking into whether any lessons can be learned from this case_ No criticism was expressed at the inquest of any of the medical team involved in the care of Jackson.
Action Should Be Taken
In my opinion action should be taken t0 prevent fulure dealhs and believe your organisation has the power to take such action. The purpose of this Report is to see whether there are any learning points for the wider NHS and Neonatal Doctors and Nurses
Similar PFD Reports
Reports sharing organisations, categories, or themes
Related Inquiry Recommendations
Public inquiry recommendations addressing similar themes
Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.