Investigation and inquest
On 02 November 2023 I commenced an investigation into the death of Jean THOMAS aged 85. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 09 October 2024. The conclusion of the inquest was that:
Accident
Accident
Circumstances of the death
Jean Thomas fell at home on 20/10/23 and fractured her hip. She underwent surgical fixation but developed post-operative sepsis. Against the background of her underlying medical conditions the infection proved overwhelming and Jean died at the Grange University Hospital in Llanfrechan on 26/10/2023.
Coroner’s concerns
Jean was known to have significant cardiovascular problems and from her admission there were signs this was worsening.
Her blood pressure was low, which would normally be treated with intravenous fluids, but excess fluids would put more pressure on her heart, and thus she was also treated with a low dose of furosemide.
The management of Jean’s fluid balance was important for the following reasons; she had heart failure, she had chronic renal failure, she had signs of a superimposing acute kidney injury and she was scoring on the NEWS chart from admission, such that the algorithm required the fluid balance to be monitored. Jean had signs of sepsis.
I find at inquest that Jean’s fluid balance was not monitored, which I determined to be a failure in care. It was not monitored by the nursing or the medical staff. Whilst I could not find that knowledge of Jean’s fluid balance would have altered the outcome, it is a matter of grave concern that this basic nursing care was ignored, and these important clinical indicators not monitored by the medical staff.