Investigation and inquest
On 01/04/2014 I 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.
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 took place on 13/01/2014
(4) 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 Dixon’s death I am concerned that these may impact upon other patients not just within the urology department but in other areas of the hospital, particularly screening and follow up.
I heard evidence about an action plan to deal with the 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 plan 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