Investigation and inquest
On the 16th December 2014 I commenced an investigation into the death of Howell Glyndwr Fisher. The investigation was concluded at the end of an inquest on today's date being 16th April 2015. The conclusion of the inquest was a narrative conclusion:
“Howell Glyndwr Fisher died from the complications of a fractured hip which he sustained when he fell at his home address on the 5th November 2014, against a background of vascular disease and respiratory problems”.
Circumstances of the death
The deceased fell at his home address on the 5th November 2014. He was admitted to the Princess of Wales Hospital where his hip was surgically repaired. Following the surgery he developed an ischemic left leg and was moved to Morriston Hospital in Swansea for vascular surgery. He was unwell on arrival suffering with Atrial Fibrillation and Pneumonia and Chronic Kidney impairment. He underwent surgery at Morriston which was successful and was then discharged back to the Princess of Wales Hospital on the 20th November. He developed further pneumonia, continued to deteriorate and passed away on the 9th December on ward 6.
Whilst at Morriston Hospital he sustained two falls (no injuries sustained) and on transfer back to the Princess of Wales Hospital he sustained a further three falls (only a minor injury received) on the last fall on the 4th December 2014.
Coroner’s concerns
(1) Within the space of a month the deceased had at least 5 falls whilst being deemed as high risk of falls. He was identified as requiring one to one nursing but there were many occasions when insufficient staff numbers meant that this could not be delivered.
(2) There was no “handover material” at the point of transfer between the two hospitals detailing that he was at high risk of falls and further more on readmission to the Princess of Wales Hospital on the 20th November no falls risk assessment was carried out – indeed, after each successive fall in the Princess of Wales Hospital no formal assessment appears to have been undertaken. Throughout he remained at high risk of falls.