Marion Nickson · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 20th February 2023 I commenced an investigation into the death of Marion Nickson. The investigation concluded on the 6th July 2023 and the conclusion was one of Narrative: Died from the complications of an accidental fall sustained when not observed in hospital exacerbated by necessary anticoagulation therapy and when an inpatient following a pneumothorax a complication of a necessary medical procedure. The medical cause of death was 1a) Traumatic acute subdural bleed on the background of anticoagulation therapy; 1b) Fall; II) Iatrogenic pneumothorax during pacemaker insertion, complete heart block, ischaemic heart disease, acute coronary syndrome

Marion Nickson was admitted to Macclesfield Hospital on 26th January 2023 after a fall at her home address. It was identified she had had a heart attack and needed a pacemaker. Whilst at Macclesfield she had a fall on 27th January whilst unobserved in a bay where she should have been observed but she sustained no significant injury. She was transferred to Stepping Hill Hospital as a day patient on 2nd February 2023 for a pacemaker to be fitted. During the fitting she sustained a pneumothorax a recognised complication of the pacemaker fitting. A chest drain was fitted and she was admitted to Stepping Hill Hospital whilst the chest drain was required. On the 12th February 2023 she had an unwitnessed fall but sustained no significant injury. She was identified as having acute coronary syndrome and treated with anticoagulants. On 13th February the chest drain was removed and on 14th February she was deemed to be medically optimised for discharged. She was in a bay where a member of staff should have remained at all times. That did not happen. Whilst unobserved she had an accidental fall when she tried to mobilise independently from her chair. She was sent for a CT scan and a bleed to the brain was identified. She deteriorated rapidly and died at Stepping Hill Hospital on 14th February 2023 as a consequence of her head injury.

The inquest heard evidence that to deal with the risk of falls in patients deemed to be high risk the concept of observable bay nursing had been introduced at both Trusts. At both Trusts Mrs Nickson fell whilst unobserved due to the challenges of maintaining the bays as observed bays. The challenge for both trusts had arisen where staff were required to deal with issues out of the bay and had left the bay area. The cause of that was multifactorial and included a lack of understanding of the risk presented by leaving the bay and a need for the staff to complete other urgent tasks due to the demand on ward staff.
The inquest heard that preventing in patient falls to reduce avoidable deaths was recognised as being important and that across the NHS bays of this nature were seen as a way to reduce the risk. However they would only work if staff had the time and there were cultural changes amongst staff where it was recognised that observing patients had to be seen as a priority and not something that could be left to fit around other demands. The evidence was clear that if observable bays could not function as intended then across the NHS there would continue to be avoidable falls and consequential deaths. If bay nursing could not effectively delivered due to resourcing then other options to keep patients safe needed to be explored by Acute Trusts.