Investigation and inquest
On the 3rd of May 2019 I commenced an investigation into the death of Edna Drury Evans (DOB 8.5.26 DOD 2.5.19) The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on the 26th of September 2019 The conclusion of the inquest was one of an accidental death, the cause of death being 1(a) Subdural Haematoma (b)
Circumstances of the death
The deceased had become a resident at Emral House Nursing Home on the 24th of December 2018 following a number of falls. Whilst a resident there had been a number of further incidents relating to Mrs Evans between the 12th of March 2019 and the 27th of April 2019, all of which were documented as Accident Records. The final fall on the 27th of April was unwitnessed and resulted in a significant head injury which caused her death.
Coroner’s concerns
The evidence provided at the inquest indicated that staff at the home were currently undergoing training in relation to the risk of falls but that this had not yet been fully completed.
Furthermore, although the manager indicated in her evidence that a resident who had sustained a number of falls would be expected to be categorised as “high risk”, she stated that Mrs Evans was only a “medium risk” despite the fact that she had falls prior to admission and continued to have a number of falls whilst a resident.
Although there was an assessment of Mrs Evans on the 11th of January (ie shortly after she became a resident) there is no evidence to suggest that there was any reassessment following further falls nor any apparent policy or protocol requiring this.