Investigation and inquest
On 8 July 2021 I commenced an investigation into the death of Mark Anthony Athias, aged 55. The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest on 27 January 2022. The conclusion of the inquest was a narrative conclusion that was attributable to 1(a) Sepsis 1(b) Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia after he was admitted to hospital from his nursing home due to a urinary tract infection associated with problems relating to his catheter.
Circumstances of the death
Mr Athias had multiple physical and mental health issues. He was subject to recurring urinary infections and had a long-term catheter inserted in hospital in May 2021. On 2 July 2021, difficulties were encountered with his catheter. As the nursing home did not have a sterile replacement catheter in stock, an ambulance was called, and he was admitted to hospital. Despite treatment, his condition deteriorated and he died at 6.10am on 6 July 2021.
Coroner’s concerns
1. The nursing home did not have sterile replacement catheters in stock, despite being aware that Mr Athias had difficulties with his catheter, which had necessitated it being replaced twice in previous weeks. The mistakes made in ordering replacements had not been detected by the managers in the nursing home.
2. The catheter care plan had identified the need for his fluid intake and output to be monitored. The contemporaneous records kept were, however, inadequate. This hindered any assessment of his urinary problems. The managers in the nursing home had not noticed the inadequacy of such records.
3. The handover record for 2 July 2021 was missing, having allegedly been overwritten. The managers in the nursing home did not appreciate this until an Adult Safeguarding Investigation was underway.
4. In order to ensure instructions were complied with, and without checks to ensure the contemporaneous records required to be kept were actually being maintained, there is a risk deficient record keeping could continue.
5. Managers of nursing homes should make checks sufficiently often to ensure the records required to be kept actually exist, and that they are preserved, so as to facilitate an analysis of trends in the medical condition of patients in the care of the nursing home