Norfolk

Coroner Area
Reports: 123 Earliest: Aug 2013 Latest: 18 Mar 2026

82% response rate (above 63% average).

Clear 94 results
Eileen Walsh
All Responded
2023-0278 31 Jul 2023
Broadlane View Care Home
Care Home Health related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) The care home failed to complete critical policies and implement a monitoring system for years. Issues include unaddressed faulty alarms, conflicting record-editing policies, and an internal investigation that missed key facts, mirroring CQC concerns.
Action Taken (AI summary) The Night Work policy, incorporating a successful daily notes audit to prevent pre-recording of observations, was uploaded to the QCS system and added to the staff reading list on 01/08/2023. They have also engaged an external compliance company for more thorough inspections and monthly visits to assist with continuous improvement.
Colin Greenway
All Responded
2023-0252 18 Jul 2023
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) Incorrect prescribing by junior doctors, inadequate VTE assessments, and consultants' failure to properly supervise prescribing and ensure continuity of patient care were identified.
Action Taken (AI summary) The Trust updated VTE guidelines with NICE guidance, introduced mandatory e-learning on VTE, rolled out NEWS2, mandated patient monitoring documentation in Tendable© audits, and implemented a Patient Safety Incident Response Plan, identifying VTE as a focus area. They are also working with other trusts on a joint Electronic Patient Record System implementation by 2025.
Peter Seaby
All Responded
2023-0076Deceased 27 Feb 2023
Oaks and Woodcroft Care Home
Care Home Health related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) Informal staff arrangements and insufficient staffing levels led to inadequate supervision of residents. There was also a lack of post-incident review and management oversight.
Action Planned (AI summary) The Priory's operational management team will review the findings of the inquest and other information related to the incident, to identify any remaining salient themes and trends. They are also recruiting an additional Investigations Officer and adopting the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework.
Lyn Brind
All Responded
2023-0017Deceased 18 Jan 2023
Department of Health and Social Care
Emergency services related deaths (2019 onwards) Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) Critical delays in transferring patients from ambulances to the emergency department are caused by hospital bed shortages, leading to insufficient patient monitoring and significant ambulance handover delays.
Action Taken (AI summary) The Department of Health and Social Care highlights the 'Delivery plan for recovering urgent and emergency care services', investments in virtual wards, and the Discharge Fund to improve patient flow and reduce ambulance handover delays. They note improvements in A&E performance and handover times at the relevant hospital.
Kyriacos Athanasis
All Responded
2023-0007Deceased 6 Jan 2023
Department of Health and Social Care Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Boa…
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) Hospital overcrowding and delays in transferring patients from ambulances to the emergency department led to inadequate safety checks and delayed diagnosis of severe injuries.
Action Planned (AI summary) The Department of Health and Social Care outlines national initiatives to improve urgent and emergency care, including the Delivery Plan for Recovering Urgent and Emergency Care Services, aiming for faster A&E wait times and reduced ambulance response times through measures like increasing bed capacity and expanding Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services. The Integrated Care Board outlines plans to improve the urgent and emergency care system, including developing a virtual ward, an urgent community response service, and urgent treatment centres. The UEC board will lead on transformation and improvement work within the area.
Janice Hopper
All Responded
2022-0384 28 Nov 2022
Windmill House Care Home
Care Home Health related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) The care plan was inaccurate, not person-specific, and vital medical monitoring—including weight, blood sugar, and fluid intake—was neglected or poorly recorded. Additionally, medication was administered inappropriately and care plans lacked regular review or audit.
Action Taken (AI summary) Runwood Homes has implemented changes including a new pre-admission form, staff training on individualised care plans, improved medication management protocols, and monthly care plan audits by the senior team.
Bonnie Webster
All Responded
2022-0378 25 Nov 2022
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Child Death (from 2015) Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) Parents were inadequately informed of the baby's serious condition, antibiotics were significantly delayed, and staff used an inefficient, non-emergency method to alert the paediatric team.
Action Planned (AI summary) The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn plans to implement mandatory training for clinical staff on communication skills, documentation and escalation, and will establish a group to improve processes in the maternity unit.
Lewis Begley
All Responded
2022-0380 26 Sep 2022
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Alcohol, drug and medication related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) The mental health hospital lacked a proper record of stored medication, especially drugs subject to misuse, and had no system to track patient access or provide fixed overdose treatment training for doctors.
Action Planned (AI summary) Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is revising its Medicines Management Policy, led by a new Chief Pharmacist, to address stock oversight. They will not train medics to administer Naloxone due to infrequent use.
Zachariah Richardson
All Responded
2022-0296 26 Sep 2022
Lincs Firwood Co Ltd and DD Dodds and S…
Accident at Work and Health and Safety related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) An inexperienced worker was left unsupervised with poorly maintained Fork Lift Trucks lacking critical safety devices. The company demonstrated a profound lack of health and safety understanding and failed to implement changes years after the death.
Action Taken (AI summary) DAC Beachcroft, on behalf of Lincs Firewood Company, states that the procedures were either already in place at the time of the incident, or have been enhanced since. Training includes task-specific chainsaw maintenance, emergency first aid, and health and safety modules.
Christina Ruse
All Responded
2022-0265 26 Aug 2022
East of England Ambulance Service
Emergency services related deaths (2019 onwards)
Concerns summary (AI summary) Significant delays in emergency ambulance response for a Category 2 call due to high demand led to a patient's deterioration, raising concerns about future deaths despite recent service improvements.
Action Taken (AI summary) East of England Ambulance Service has implemented 'Category 1 drop and go' and 'Category 2 rapid release' projects at hospitals in Norfolk to improve response times for critical patients, and shared a briefing for HM Coroners in relation to hospital handover delays. Spire Norwich Hospital has added wording to patient admission letters to ensure all patients are aware that the hospital does not have an on-site critical care unit, and has agreed a process with East of England Ambulance Service for clinician to clinician discussions regarding inter-provider transfers.
Barbara Hollis
All Responded
2022-0264 26 Aug 2022
East of England Ambulance Service
Emergency services related deaths (2019 onwards)
Concerns summary (AI summary) Emergency ambulance delays due to high demand and an incorrect call pathway led to an extended response time for a Category 2 call, raising concerns about future deaths despite service changes.
Action Taken (AI summary) East of England Ambulance Service is working with system partners and the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) to manage call demand, has implemented daily system calls with stakeholders, and has implemented 'Category 1 drop and go' and 'Category 2 rapid release' projects at a local level in Norfolk. The hospital added wording to admission letters informing patients it does not have an on-site critical care unit. They agreed a process with EEAST for clinician-to-clinician discussions during delayed ambulance responses to share detailed patient information.
Eliot Harris
All Responded
2022-0260 22 Aug 2022
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Other related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) Critical patient observations were not carried out or recorded correctly, staff lacked training and competency, and there were issues with task allocation, record keeping, and ensuring staff safely enter rooms for patient welfare checks.
Action Taken (AI summary) Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust has implemented a Safety Day training program, created a policy folder with policy summaries, and revised the physical health audit process, along with improved training for staff to complete ECGs and phlebotomy; staff now have bleeps for rapid response.
Michael Wysockyj
All Responded
2022-0153 24 May 2022
Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NH…
Emergency services related deaths (2019 onwards) Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) Busy Emergency Departments and ambulance offload delays postpone critical x-rays. Additionally, there is no clear escalation process to ensure x-rays are completed when overlooked by staff, risking missed diagnoses.
Action Taken (AI summary) The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn reports that the checklist for patients in the Emergency Department has been upgraded to include a specific reference to investigations.
Tracy Wood
All Responded
2022-0110 11 Apr 2022
Hellesdon Hospital
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths Mental Health related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) Insufficient staffing, failure of a duty doctor to assess a patient, unapproved medication administration without proper tracking, and significant inaccuracies in clinical records led to compromised care.
Action Taken (AI summary) The Trust outlines actions taken following the death of Tracy Wood including: review of staffing levels, changes to observation policy, review of access to patient information, review of the SBAR tool, and updates to the PSII report process. They also mention routine uploading of the SBAR tool onto the electronic record.
Theo Brennan-Hulme
All Responded
2022-0049 15 Feb 2022
Hellesdon Hospital
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths Mental Health related deaths Suicide (from 2015)
Concerns summary (AI summary) A persistent culture of bullying and lack of compassion within the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team led to a dangerous belief that some suicides are "inevitable," compounded by unchecked patient discharge decisions.
Action Taken (AI summary) Hellesdon Hospital has updated its discharge policy to include a documented discussion and MDT review prior to discharge, particularly for young people. They are also working with service users to improve communication and engaging in suicide prevention initiatives.
Sheila Steggles
All Responded
2022-0042 10 Feb 2022
Hellesdon Hospital
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths Mental Health related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) Patient care failures included neglected VTE risk assessments for reduced mobility, poor clinical documentation, inadequate care planning, and junior staff failing to consult on critical medication interactions.
Action Taken (AI summary) Hellesdon Hospital is updating the Trust induction for junior doctors to include physical health training, supported by senior consultants and underpinned by the SBAR framework. They will offer "3 Ps" training to all staff, rolling out "bite-size" training on VTE, and set up a working group for flexible working colleagues to support an education passport for health workers.
Anthony Rode
All Responded
2022-0021 25 Jan 2022
Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Cais…
Accident at Work and Health and Safety related deaths Other related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) A dispute over land responsibility left a coastal area unmaintained, obscuring Coastwatch views and leading a volunteer to undertake dangerous grass strimming, hindering life-saving operations.
Action Planned (AI summary) Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Caister-on-Sea Parish Council will discuss the shoreline management plan with parish councils, write to organizations and businesses near the shoreline, launch a social media campaign, and work with Coastal Protection East partners to increase public awareness of coastal management issues.
Jane Bush
All Responded
2021-0353 20 Oct 2021
Hellesdon Hospital
Child Death (from 2015) Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths Mental Health related deaths Suicide (from 2015)
Concerns summary (AI summary) Persistent delays in mental health assessments and access to psychological therapy are driven by ongoing staff recruitment and retention issues, hindering the Trust's ability to manage increased demand for complex cases.
Action Taken (AI summary) Hellesdon Hospital has implemented several actions including increasing capacity of the Central Youth Team, developing a locality model, developing a transition service, and recruiting senior nurses and consultant psychologists. They have also added relocation incentives to recruitment adverts and are offering remote working where appropriate.
Oscar Seaman
All Responded
2021-0252 21 Jul 2021
Norfolk County Council
Child Death (from 2015) Road (Highways Safety) related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) High collision rates persist on a road where speeding is ignored, compounded by an unsafe junction lacking stop signs and adequate visibility, necessitating speed cameras and mirrors.
Action Planned (AI summary) Norfolk County Council reduced the speed limit to 50mph in response to this incident and will undertake speed surveys to measure driver compliance, and will undertake a further review to reassess the visibility approaching the A134 from the northeast arm of the junction.
Ben King
All Responded
2021-0250 20 Jul 2021
Jeesal Akman Care Corporation Ltd Jeesal Holdings Ltd Jeesal Residential Care Services +1 more
Care Home Health related deaths Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) The provided text is a generic statement of concern, without specifying the particular matters that led to the risk of future deaths.
Action Taken (AI summary) Jeesal Residential Care Services has made changes to its board membership and oversight, including independent verification of reports, commissioning staff and family surveys, and a decision not to run hospital services in the future. They are also reviewing residents' placements and care packages to ensure appropriateness. The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals have discussed Mr King's case and raised awareness generally of the importance of obtaining tests when they are needed to inform the management and next stage of a patient's treatment. It was acknowledged by HM Coroner's expert that there was a spectrum of decision making available in this case, with admitting Mr King at one end of the range and sending him home at the other end.
Peggy Copeman
All Responded
2021-0182 28 May 2021
Premier Rescue Ambulance Services
Emergency services related deaths (2019 onwards)
Concerns summary (AI summary) Patient transport staff failed to recognise a patient's respiratory distress, delayed calling emergency services, and performed ineffective CPR due to patient positioning. Only one staff member was CPR trained, violating policy.
Action Taken (AI summary) Premier Rescue Ambulance Service Ltd. has trained all staff, including drivers, in CPR, with one member of staff now authorized to train others internally. The company has also implemented a policy to no longer transport patients who are not awake and responsive at the start of the journey and requires a qualified medical practitioner confirming a patient's fitness to travel.
John Slope
All Responded
2021-0144 7 May 2021
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital…
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) Critical medical device information was missing from patient records, consent forms, and anaesthetic checklists, alongside generally poor documentation quality and specialist nurses failing to act on patient concerns.
Action Planned (AI summary) The Trust has revised its SI action plan to include checking the bypass tube at dressing changes, making the reasons for using such tubes prominent on the patient record, and informing nursing staff of the risks associated with such tubes. Longer term, a single patient record system is planned for the region, with interim measures to scan patient records onto an electronic document management system.
Michael Yemm
All Responded
2021-0024 2 Feb 2021
Adult Social Services, Norfolk County C…
Care Home Health related deaths Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) The patient was placed in an unsuitable care home, inappropriately discharged by the hospital despite warnings, and suffered an inpatient fall due to inadequate supervision and care for his confused state.
Noted (AI summary) Norfolk County Council Adult Social Services expresses concerns about the inquest process, stating they were not asked to provide a report or contribute to the inquest. The response focuses on providing context and disputing some of the findings, particularly regarding the availability of suitable placements. Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking funding for a ward-based Dementia Support Worker, and has been providing regular support by the Dementia Support Team. They have reviewed the Falls Risk and Safety Sides assessments, with a final draft completed and at the final adjustment/review stage, with plans for staff education to support the changes.
Margaret Sales
All Responded
2020-0233 11 Nov 2020
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) Records were not always completed as required, nurses had difficulty contacting on-call medical staff, and a referral to the Home Enteral Nutrition service was not placed with the GP after a previous discharge.
Action Taken (AI summary) The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn provided a medical records audit across the Trust's wards. They also have updated falls risk assessments and management plans to include contacting Mental Health Liaison. A review of the QEH guidelines for those on Fresnuis is underway and due by the end of February 2021.
Sarah Gibbs
All Responded
2020-0220 29 Oct 2020
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Emergency services related deaths (2019 onwards) Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Concerns summary (AI summary) Inadequate communication between staff teams, especially during night handovers, and uncertainty regarding the consistent use of effective communication tools like SBARD were identified.
Action Taken (AI summary) SBARD is integrated into the patient handover used by the wards at every handover, with a template document used. EObs has been introduced. The Recognise and Response Team (RRT) has been expanded to provide their services 24/7 and teaches SBARD on all new staff inductions.