Investigation and inquest
On 14 March 2016 I commenced an investigation into the death of Stanley SAMPEY 92 years old. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 13 May 2016. The conclusion of the inquest was accidental death.
Circumstances of the death
Mr Sampey was an in-patient at George Eliot Hospital.
While eating a meal in bed on 5 March 2016 he choked on a food bolus.
While medical staff were dealing with this incident they attempted to suction Mr Sampey’s airway.
The wall mounted suction device was found not be working and when the crash trolley containing a portable suction unit arrived it was also not working,
Coroner’s concerns
1. There was no working available suction equipment on the Ward to manage the patient’s airway at the time of the cardiac arrest.
2. There was a lack of any structured checking procedure in place to ensure working suction equipment on wards.
3. The battery on the portable suction unit was found to be flat and the checking procedure was incorrect.