Investigation and inquest
On 21st July 2014 I commenced an investigation into the death of Donna Kirkland, aged 30 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 24th July 2014. The medical cause of death was, "Ingestion of alcohol and venlafaxine".
A narrative conclusion was given by the jury, in summary, "The source of the alcohol was the al co-gel (hand sanitiser) found in the ward area and accessible to patients. The alco-gel was consumed in her room, room 1, Beechwood Ward, Caludon Centre, Coventry."
Circumstances of the death
Donna Kirkland was admitted to the Beechwood Ward, Caludon Centre, Coventry on 30th July 2013. On 19th August 2013 Donna was detained on the ward under the provisions of section 2, Mental Health Act, 1983. Donna was prescribed appropriate medication for her condition, one such drug was venlafaxine, prescribed at appropriate therapeutic dosage.
On 22nd August 2013, at 0730 hours, Donna was found deceased in her bed on the Beechwood Ward. A 500 ml Lucozade bottle was found beside her bed which contained 250 ml of liquid containing alcohol (ethanol and isopropyl alcohol). The alcohol content was 66% weight per volume. The alcohol liquid was clear and of gel like consistency. The liquid was an alcohol based hand sanitising gel ("Purell" manufactured by Gojo) which was readily accessible to patients from a dispenser installed close to the main doors of the ward. Patients were not only allowed to access the dispenser but were permitted, if they so wished, to fill cups or other containers with the alcohol based hand sanitising gel. Patients were allowed to keep alcohol based hand sanitising gel in their rooms. A polystyrene cup containing 1 cm of alcohol based hand sanitising gel was found on Donna's bed on the morning of 22nd August 2013. 214 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood was found in Donna's post-mortem blood sample. A combination of the alcohol and venlafaxine had caused Donna's breathing to be suppressed resulting in her death.
Coroner’s concerns
(1) Patients having unlimited access to alcohol based hand sanitising gels;
(2) Patients being permitted to decant alcohol based hand sanitising gels into cups and other such containers;
(3) Patients being permitted to keep cups and containers of alcohol based hand sanitising gels in their rooms;
(4) Lack of awareness amongst staff of alcohol content of alcohol based hand sanitising gels and the potential for such gels to be ingested.