Investigation and inquest
On 4th February 2013, I commenced an investigation into the death of Yvonne Sydney Annie Perry. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 20th September 2013.
Circumstances of the death
Yvonne Sydney Annie Perry fractured her left hip following a fall at home on 17th December 2012. The possibility of a fracture was recognised by the radiologist on 19th December 2012 but the radiology report was not acted upon until 4th January 2013 when she was readmitted to Milton Keynes General Hospital unable to weight bear. She developed a severe urinary tract infection and died of sepsis on 2nd February 2013.
Coroner’s concerns
(1) That the x-ray taken of Mrs. Perry’s hip, reported on by the consultant radiologist on the 19th December 2012, was not acted upon until the 3rd January 2013. It was recognised that the Hospital “do not have a robust process for tracking that the emergency department consultants have looked at the radiology reports.” Without such a system I believe further deaths may occur in the future.
(2) The GPs who attend the Windsor Intermediate Care Unit do not have access to the electronic hospital notes and records and those witnesses from WICU who attended the inquest considered that such access would improve the care afforded to patients. Similarly without access to the patients notes further deaths may occur in the future.