Yuki Ivy Norman-Knight
PFD Report
All Responded
Ref: 2013-0321
All 1 response received
· Deadline: 20 Apr 2014
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
Concerns include fragmented patient record access, lack of clear guidelines for practice nurse referrals to doctors, and insufficient triggers for receptionists to book doctor appointments for young children and babies.
View full coroner's concerns
_ Evidence given at Inquest from the Timber Hill walk in centre was that a record of a patient's attendance , if not registered at that practice, would be sent either electronically or by fax to the surgery where the patient was registered. In their evidence to the Inquest practice nurses who saw Yuki at St Stephens Gate Medical practice could not recall if they had access to this information: am therefore concerned that the systems for practice nurses checking an attending patients medical history, especially where the patient is a young child or baby may need review: (2) On the evidence given to the Inquest there appeared to be no guidelines or triggers for when practice nurse should refer a patient to be seen by a doctor: am therefore concerned that the systems at St Stephens Gate Medical Practice for such a referral, especially in the case of a young child or baby may need to be reviewed (3) The evidence given to the Inquest was that when a caller telephoned the St Stephens Gate Medical Practice for an appointment the receptionist would ask the caller if were happy with a nurse practitioner appointment If the caller said wanted a doctor then a doctor's appointment would be given: There appeared to be no guidelines for the receptionist or trigger for a doctor's appointment to be made in the absence of any specific request by the caller: am therefore concerned that the systems for making appointments at the St Stephens Gate Medical Practice may need reviewing in particular whether there should be guidelines andlor triggers for a doctor's appointment as opposed to nurse practitioner when the appointment is for a very young child or baby: the past very very they they
ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion; action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you andlor your organisation have the power to take such action: YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report; namely by 4 Februaty 2014. the Assistant Coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action;. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed COPIES and PUBLICATION have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons: mother) Ifather) Grandfather) Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board Room 60 Lower Ground Floor County Hall Martineau Lane Norwich NRI 2UG
Derek Winter (Archivist) HM Coroner for the City of Sunderland Civic Centre Burdon Road Sunderland SR2 7DN am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response_ The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted Or summary form, He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest: You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner 4 December 2013
ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion; action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you andlor your organisation have the power to take such action: YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report; namely by 4 Februaty 2014. the Assistant Coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action;. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed COPIES and PUBLICATION have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons: mother) Ifather) Grandfather) Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board Room 60 Lower Ground Floor County Hall Martineau Lane Norwich NRI 2UG
Derek Winter (Archivist) HM Coroner for the City of Sunderland Civic Centre Burdon Road Sunderland SR2 7DN am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response_ The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted Or summary form, He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest: You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner 4 December 2013
Responses
Action Taken
St Stephens Gate has reviewed and reinforced the need for all clinicians to check patient past clinical history at each appointment. They are arranging laminated copies of the NICE Traffic Light guidance to be present on desks in all nurses' consulting rooms and have discussed the outcomes of this case at practice clinical meetings and reviewed policies and procedures accordingly. (AI summary)
St Stephens Gate has reviewed and reinforced the need for all clinicians to check patient past clinical history at each appointment. They are arranging laminated copies of the NICE Traffic Light guidance to be present on desks in all nurses' consulting rooms and have discussed the outcomes of this case at practice clinical meetings and reviewed policies and procedures accordingly. (AI summary)
View full response
Dear Sir, NQUESTIN IQ THE DEATH QF YUKI NORMAN-KNIGHI RESPONSE IQ MATTERS QE CONCERN If a patient attended another organisation that is using the SystmOne clinical software then the following is noted on their record (example): 'Care started at Timber Hill Health Centre (Walk In Patient) ' This would automatically show the date, time and the consultation, as well as who the patient was seen by. The would include advice given and any medication prescribed. After the consultation the system would show: 'Care ended at Timber Hill Health Centre (Walk In Patient) '. This entry would also show date and time However: we would not be able to see the detail of the consultation if SystmOne showed: 'Patient dissented to their record at another organisation being shared Qr: 'Event has been made private by another organisation. In other words, our ability to see the consultation details at another venue is reliant on the patient's consent: However; in the instance where consent has been given, we confirm that the information can be seen and that all nursing staff check records accordingly: Whilst this would be standard procedure in any case, we have reviewed and reinforced the need for all clinicians to check patient past clinical history at each appointment: If a patient is seen in A&E or by the OOH team; then the report is electronically linked to a patient and shown under communications on the patient record, However, in the case of A&E attendances the Practice may not receive notification for some days; but we would assure you that as soon as notification is received in Practice it is immediately scanned into the Patients notes. In the case of a young child the parent or guardian would be in a position to inform the clinician that the child had been seen at or by the above_ 2 St Stephens Gate Medical Practice assures the Coroner that any Nurse Practitioner or Practice Nurse will have the support of a doctor at all times. Moreover; the Practice is arranging for a Fce 2046 entry entry duty .
paediatrician to attend here and present a module on 'Referral for a Sick Child'; and also for all clinicians to undertake: 'Spotting The Sick Child' , an e-learning tool commissioned by the Department of Health: NICE Guidance states: 'fever in young children can be a diagnostic challenge for healthcare professionals because it is often difficult to identify the cause. In most cases, the illness is due to a self-limiting viral infection: However; fever may also be the presenting feature of serious bacterial infections such as meningitis or pneumonia: A significant number of children have no obvious cause of fever despite careful assessment. These children with fever without apparent source are of particular concern to healthcare professionals because it is especially difficult to distinguish between simple viral illnesses and life-threatening bacterial infections in this group. In recognition of this NICE guidance, in the event of any doubt a nurse would refer to or at the very least discuss a case of concern with a GP_ We use the NICE 'Traffic Light System for Identifying Risk of Serious Illness [new 2013]', and are arranging for laminated copies of the Traffic Light guidance to be present on desks in all nurses' consulting rooms_
3. Medical practice receptionists are not qualified to triage clinically_ When the parent or guardian of a sick child calls for an appointment, the receptionist will whether an appointment with a Nurse Practitioner or Practice Nurse is suitable: If the parentlguardian indicates that there is concern that this might not be suitable, or a Nurse appointment is declined by the parentguardian; then the child would either be booked a GP appointment or the Doctor asked to triage We also have guidance for immediate Duty Doctor response; for example if the parentlguardian states that the child has difficulty breathing, or a non-blanching rash_ The outcome here might be that the patient would be advised to attend the Surgery as a matter of urgency or an ambulance called on their behalf. Two points we wish to reinforce here are that the entire Practice team works extremely hard to ensure that we avoid any in a patient seen, and that a sick child would always be offered an appointment with a practitioner capable of dealing with the problem_ We have also undertaken a survey of contacts by parentslguardians of patients under one year that we have had, over a period of one month: We will then discuss the issue at a clinicians' meeting to establish whether all under-one year olds should be triaged by a GP_ Finally, we would wish to reassure you that we have discussed the outcomes of this case at practice clinical meetings, and have reviewed our policies and procedures accordingly: We offer our most sincere condolences to the family of Yuki and, of course, wish to play our part to ensure that any risks of such a tragic instance occurring again in the future are eliminated as far as possible_
paediatrician to attend here and present a module on 'Referral for a Sick Child'; and also for all clinicians to undertake: 'Spotting The Sick Child' , an e-learning tool commissioned by the Department of Health: NICE Guidance states: 'fever in young children can be a diagnostic challenge for healthcare professionals because it is often difficult to identify the cause. In most cases, the illness is due to a self-limiting viral infection: However; fever may also be the presenting feature of serious bacterial infections such as meningitis or pneumonia: A significant number of children have no obvious cause of fever despite careful assessment. These children with fever without apparent source are of particular concern to healthcare professionals because it is especially difficult to distinguish between simple viral illnesses and life-threatening bacterial infections in this group. In recognition of this NICE guidance, in the event of any doubt a nurse would refer to or at the very least discuss a case of concern with a GP_ We use the NICE 'Traffic Light System for Identifying Risk of Serious Illness [new 2013]', and are arranging for laminated copies of the Traffic Light guidance to be present on desks in all nurses' consulting rooms_
3. Medical practice receptionists are not qualified to triage clinically_ When the parent or guardian of a sick child calls for an appointment, the receptionist will whether an appointment with a Nurse Practitioner or Practice Nurse is suitable: If the parentlguardian indicates that there is concern that this might not be suitable, or a Nurse appointment is declined by the parentguardian; then the child would either be booked a GP appointment or the Doctor asked to triage We also have guidance for immediate Duty Doctor response; for example if the parentlguardian states that the child has difficulty breathing, or a non-blanching rash_ The outcome here might be that the patient would be advised to attend the Surgery as a matter of urgency or an ambulance called on their behalf. Two points we wish to reinforce here are that the entire Practice team works extremely hard to ensure that we avoid any in a patient seen, and that a sick child would always be offered an appointment with a practitioner capable of dealing with the problem_ We have also undertaken a survey of contacts by parentslguardians of patients under one year that we have had, over a period of one month: We will then discuss the issue at a clinicians' meeting to establish whether all under-one year olds should be triaged by a GP_ Finally, we would wish to reassure you that we have discussed the outcomes of this case at practice clinical meetings, and have reviewed our policies and procedures accordingly: We offer our most sincere condolences to the family of Yuki and, of course, wish to play our part to ensure that any risks of such a tragic instance occurring again in the future are eliminated as far as possible_
Sent To
Response Status
Linked responses
1 of 1
56-Day Deadline
20 Apr 2014
All responses received
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