Investigation and inquest
On Second September 2022 I commenced an investigation into the death of Sylvia GIBSON, aged 96. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 27th October 2022. I found that the deceased died as a result of natural causes to which accidental injuries contributed.
Circumstances of the death
Sylvia sustained an unwitnessed fall in the early hours of 17th August 2022 thereby sustaining injuries. These injuries were not reported to the attending medical practitioner.
Coroner’s concerns
Although staff at Lambton House Care Home were aware of her fall in the early hours of 17th August, and this information was handed over to other staff, the same information was not conveyed to the doctor who visited Sylvia (being “not her usual self”) at around lunchtime that day. It appears that no systems were in place to ensure that important information is conveyed to healthcare professionals.
Evidence does not suggest that this communications failure contributed to Sylvia’s death.