Investigation and inquest
On 22nd November 2016 I commenced an investigation into the death of Marian Dale. The investigation concluded on the 3rd March 2017 and the conclusion was one of died from sepsis, a recognised complication of cellulitis, following trauma to the legs. The medical cause of death was 1a Sepsis;1bCellulitis;1c Trauma to the leg
Circumstances of the death
Marian Dale lived independently at her home address. She injured both her legs in separate accidents. She was treated by the District Nursing Team for one of the injuries. Both legs developed cellulitis and she was admitted to Stepping Hill Hospital. She was treated with antibiotics for the cellulitis. She developed sepsis and died at Stepping Hill Hospital on the 17th November 2016.
Coroner’s concerns
Marian Dale had been visited on a regular basis by the District Nursing Team. However, they were unable to give evidence of the condition of her legs and treatment on their visits prior to her death. This was due to the fact that all notes were retained at the patient’s address until a sheet in the hand held notes was completed. There was no system for a contemporaneous record to be held centrally. Her notes had not been retrieved after her death and there was no system in place to ensure that happened.