Investigation and inquest
On 23rd September 2015 I commenced an investigation into the death of Ranjan Raman which occurred on 11th March 1947. The investigation concluded on the 2nd February 2016 and the conclusion was one of Accidental Death. The medical cause of death was 1a Subdural Haemorrhage 11. Chronic hyponatraemia, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Ischaemic Heart disease and Chronic kidney disease.
Circumstances of the death
Ms Mistry was admitted to the hospital with low sodium levels and high blood pressure. Whilst in hospital she fell on three separate occasions and in one of these falls she sustained injury to her head which led to the bleed which proved fatal on the 21st September 2015.
Coroner’s concerns
1. The evidence showed that there was no, or no sufficient, assessment of her Falls Risk.
2. The Neurological observation charts were either never completed or had been lost from the notes.
3. There was clear evidence that the medical staff were not reading (or even looking at) the nursing notes, and the nurses were similarly not looking at the medical entries.
4. The hand-over sheets for each shift were being shredded by the nurses as soon as the shift was completed. Whilst it is appreciated that these cannot be placed on the record of an individual patient for reasons of confidentiality, there is no reason why they could not be filed on the wards and retained for say 14 days which would allow further reference to be made to them, should this be deemed necessary or helpful.
5. Although an “Incident Report” was carried out in this case, the details available to the Coroners court were sketchy and inadequate.