Investigation and inquest
On the 1st of July 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Patricia Ann Catterall (DOB 3.1.43 DOD 23.6.24). The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on the 11th of April 2024. The cause of death was recorded as being due to 1(a) Hypersmolar Hyperglycaemic Syndrome (“HHS”) and Sepsis with Pneumonia. 2. Frailty of Old Age and Dementia and the conclusion of the inquest was that of a death from natural causes.
Circumstances of the death
On the 11th of June 2024 the deceased’s care was transferred from the Health Board to the Nursing home following the deceased having spent 207 days in the care of the Health Board at Mold Community Hospital
Whilst under the care of the Health Board, the deceased’s blood sugar levels were checked three times per day, however once she became resident at Pendine, they were only checked once a day.
During the period between the 11th and the 19th of June 2024, the deceased’s condition deteriorated and on the 19th of June she was admitted to the Maelor Hospital Wrexham where she was diagnosed as having HHS and sepsis. Her condition and co-morbidities were such that it would have been inappropriate to aggressively treat these conditions and she passed away a few days later.
Coroner’s concerns
That the process of assessment by the Nursing Home prior to the transfer of care to them was not sufficiently robust so as to ensure that all relevant information required for the safe care of a patient had been received and assessed prior to the patient being received into their care.
Evidence was received that in the majority of cases (post Covid) there are no face to face assessments prior to patient transfer and that the assessment is therefore dependent on the documentation supplied to the Nursing Home by the Health Board which in some cases may result in not all relevant information being provided.
In this instance evidence was given that the Nursing Home did not know that the deceased’s blood sugar levels were monitored three times per days whilst in the care of Health Board.