Thomas Dixon

PFD Report Historic (No Identified Response) Ref: 2014-0315
Date of Report 8 July 2014
Coroner Derek Winter
Coroner Area Sunderland
Response Deadline est. 2 September 2014
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
The report identifies failures to schedule timely appointments and a missing referral form. The coroner expressed concern that these issues may impact other patients, particularly in screening and follow-up, and suggested a review of the action plan addressing these concerns.
View full coroner's concerns
_ (1) There was a failure to give Mr Dixon an appointment 6 months after he was seen in August 2012 (2) There was a failure to give Mr Dixon an urgent appointment for a procedure within 4-6 weeks of the 14/08/2013 (3) Important documentation_was missing_namely the referral form for the procedure that Centre; Burdon Road;, Sunderland, SRZ ZDN Tel 0191 5617843 Fax 0191 5537803 DX 60729 Sunderland wwW.sunderland_ gov.uklcoroner City City Civic took place on 13/01/2014 There appeared to be no systems in place to identify and take action to rectify these problems. Although none of the failures caused or contributed to the death of Mr Dixon and although the Consultant Urological Surgeon had identified some of the problems before Mr Dixons death am concerned that these may impact upon other patients not just within the urology department but in other areas of the hospital work, particularly screening and follow up_ heard evidence about an action plan to deal with (he issues that had arisen particularly about problems with faxes and the proposed electronic improvements_ However it is nearly 6 months since the problems were identified and it may be that a review of the action pian and the timeliness of its implementation would be beneficial together with any other action that could be taken to deal with these concerns so as to prevent future deaths
Sent To
  • City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Response Status
Linked responses 0 of 1
56-Day Deadline 2 Sep 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 01/04/2014 commenced an investigation into the death of Thomas David Dixon, aged 62 The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest on 03/07/2014, The conclusion of the Inquest was Natural Causes. Mr Dixon died from metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder,
Circumstances of the Death
In May 2011 it was found that Mr Dixon had a bladder tumour shown to be invading the muscle of the bladder and also a carcinoma in situ: He was not fit enough to undergo surgery but did have radiotherapy_ In August 2012 it was noted that he had no obvious tumour and a further check was to be made in 6 months time. Mr Dixon was next seen on 14/08/2013. The evidence at the Inquest was that he ought to have had an urgent procedure within 4-6 weeks_ That procedure did not take place until 13/01/2014. The referral form for the procedure could not be found. Surgery and further radiotherapy were not options for Mr Dixon who died at St Benedict's Hospice on 29/03/2014,
Action Should Be Taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you have the power to take such action:
Related Inquiry Recommendations

Public inquiry recommendations addressing similar themes

Documentation of technical adviser advice
Scottish Hospitals Inquiry
Complaint record keeping failures
Recording case information on police systems
Southport Inquiry
Complaint record keeping failures
Frontline staff access to full case information
Southport Inquiry
Complaint record keeping failures
School safeguarding recording systems
Southport Inquiry
Complaint record keeping failures
Review of school attendance monitoring guidance
Southport Inquiry
Complaint record keeping failures
Protocol for duty to assist referrals
Cranston Inquiry
Complaint record keeping failures
Registration and Application Forms
Infected Blood Inquiry
Complaint record keeping failures
Three-Cohort Prioritisation
Infected Blood Inquiry
Complaint record keeping failures
Oral Representations at Review
Infected Blood Inquiry
Complaint record keeping failures
Written Reasons for Decisions
Infected Blood Inquiry
Complaint record keeping failures

Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.