Elizabeth Roberts · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 24th May 2023 an investigation was commenced into the death of Elizabeth Roberts then aged 91 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 19th December 2023. I recorded a narrative conclusion that Mrs Roberts died from sepsis with congestive cardiac failure due to underlying ischaemic and valvular heart disease with the superimposed physiological burden of sacral ulceration on a background of severe frailty.

The medical cause of death being:

1a. Sepsis with congestive cardiac failure

1b. Ischaemic & hypertensive heart disease with superimposed sacral ulceration on background of severe frailty

Mrs Roberts was severely frail and bedbound with urinary and faecal incontinence. She had ischaemic and hypertensive heart disease and developed a large sacral sore with associated sepsis. These conditions precipitated congestive cardiac failure. She was admitted to Tameside General Hospital on 19th May 2023 where despite treatment, she died the same day of Sepsis with congestive cardiac failure.

The inquest heard that Mrs Roberts was supported by care agency carers four times per day and the District Nursing Team. Following a Tissue Viability assessment on 20th April 2023 the frequency of visits by the District Nursing team was increased to daily until Mrs Roberts was admitted to Tameside General Hospital on 19th May 2023.

The Inquest heard that the care agency raised concerns with Adult Social Care because her dressings were not being changed daily. In addition, Mrs Robert’s family raised concerns as did the hospital nurse responsible for Mrs Robert’s care on 19th May 2023. As a result, an investigation was opened by the District Nursing Service.

The Inquest heard that insufficient dressing changes for a sacral sore can lead to localised and systemic infection due to the risk of a sore in that area of the body being contaminated with urine and faeces.

The family were told on several occasions that the nursing team did not have time to change dressings. On 17th May 2023 a nurse did not attend to care for Mrs Roberts due to demands upon the District Nursing Team. The team offered instead an out of hours visit that would have disturbed Mrs Roberts and her family from sleep and so this was not accepted.

The Inquest heard that there are ongoing staffing issues within the District Nursing Team.

Following the Serious Incident Investigation, a number of measures have been undertaken by the Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust to address issues identified with the care of Mrs Roberts and with the district nursing service generally including:

• Introduction of weekly compliance checks for Waterlow, MUST and body mapping policies.
• All District Nursing Visits deferred to the out of hours service must be approved by Sister of Team leader.

However, the Inquest heard that despite a number of steps taken locally to manage the District Nursing Service such as using a variety of different staffing grades for visits, staffing shortages cannot be rectified by local action without a change of approach nationally.

(1) Despite a number of measures being undertaken by Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care and NHS Foundation Trust, the Inquest heard that there are residual staffing shortages in the District Nursing Service which the Trust is unable to resolve without a change of approach nationally.