Investigation and inquest
On the 18th of December 2017 I commenced an investigation into the death of Neville Welton. The investigation has not yet concluded and the inquest has not yet been heard.
Circumstances of the death
On the evening of the 12th of December 2017 the Deceased attended the Emergency Department at Wrexham Maelor Hospital following a referral from his GP. Due to a combination of factors including (but not exclusively) capacity and patient flow problems, staffing issues and administrative/escalation failures, there was a delay in him being assessed and treated, his condition deteriorated and he passed away in the early hours of the following morning.
Coroner’s concerns
The various factors referred to in paragraph 4 will be further considered at the inquest hearing, however I am concerned firstly by the length of time taken by the Health Board to conclude its Confidential Investigation and to formulate an Action Plan as this was not completed until the 27th of April 2018, some four and a half months after Mr Welton’s death.
I am further concerned that notwithstanding that an Action Plan had been established with agreed timescales for implementation of actions, these timescales have not been met and matters remain outstanding at the present time.
Whilst this investigation and report relates to the death of Mr Welton, I am concerned generally by the length of time which is taken by the Health Board to conclude its Serious Incident Reviews and thereafter to formulate and implement Action Plans.