Martin Leslie Dean · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 26th February 2014 I commenced an investigation into the death of Martin Leslie Dean, aged 42 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 9th September 2014. The conclusion of the inquest was that Martin Leslie Dean died as a consequence of a naturally occurring intracerebral haemorrhage together with a complication of necessary treatment for that condition.

On the 13th December 2013 Martin Leslie Dean suffered an intracerebral haemorrhage at his home address, ████████ Timperley, Altrincham, following which he was transferred to Salford Royal Hospital where a shunt and a feeding tube were inserted.

During the Inquest evidence was given that a number of visitors to the Critical Care Ward where Martin Leslie Dean was a patient were not washing their hands on entering the ward. Further evidence stated that the most effective single precaution that could be taken to prevent infection was hand washing. The evidence continued by revealing that it would be possible to station volunteers at the entrances to wards particularly at the entrances to Critical Care Wards where patients might be especially susceptible to infection in order to ensure that visitors did not enter the wards without washing their hands. As volunteers could be used for this function, it was stated that it would be a precaution that could be achieved at little or no cost.