Investigation and inquest
On19th March 2014 I commenced an investigation into the death of ALBERT FLYNN, born 29th December 1929. The investigation concluded on the 2nd July 2014 and the medical cause of death was 1a Subdural Haemorrhage and Parkinson’s Disease.
Circumstances of the death
Mr Flynn was resident in Appleton Manor Residential Home. On the 14th March 2014 he was taken to Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport with a suspected Deep Vein Thrombosis in the left leg. He was treated for this with Enoxaparin which is a blood thinning agent.
The following night he appeared to the staff at his residential home, to be restless and unable to sleep and they were concerned lest he fell out of bed. They therefore dressed him and placed him in a chair in the dining room/lounge. Mr Flynn was then left in that chair from 2.00am to 12.00. mid-day. During this time he had no food, no fluids and none of his prescribed medication. Eventually the care staff called upon the qualified nurse working on the floor below to attend to Mr Flynn. She described the situation as his having been left far too long and she insisted that he be moved by hoist and placed in his room. A number of the carers admitted under oath that they could not rouse him but thought he was merely sleeping.
As it turns out Mr Flynn was suffering with a severe cerebral bleed which proved to be fatal.
Coroner’s concerns
1. Whilst the care staff members were apparently concerned as to the condition of Mr Flynn, none of them was sufficiently well trained or qualified to make an informed decision as to how he should be treated.
2. As a result of the above, he was left sitting in a chair, partially dressed, without food, fluid or medication for a period of approximately 10 hours.
3. None of the staff gave any indication of any, or any proper, training in the assessment of this type of event, nor did they attribute any or any sufficient weight to the fact that he had been administered blood thinning drugs the previous day.
4. The staff did not seem to appreciate the importance of administering prescribed medication.