Coroner queries record keeping and agency staff issues after death at Fylde coast care home

A coroner is to write to a care home asking for clarification of its polices on medication records an use of agency staff following the death of a 91-year-old resident.

Patrick Cassidy returned a conclusion of natural causes at the inquest into the death of Richard Watson at the Berwick Road care home in South Shore last February.

Mr Watson was said by a senior health care assistant to have been given medication just minutes before his death, although a post mortem examination confirmed medication played no part in the death.

That was due to several medical factors, primarily cardio respiratory failure, and the death was confirmed by paramedics shortly their arrival at the home in Berwick Road.

Rigidity in Mr Watson’s jaw had suggested rigor mortis had set in casting some doubt over exactly when he died but it was said at the inquest that the rigidity could have been due to muscle spasms.

Blackpool and Fylde assistant coroner Patrick Cassidy highlighted that there were no records showing that prescribed medication had been given to Mr Watson, as related in evidence by a senior health care assistant employed at the home via an agency.

Mr Cassidy said it had also come to light during the inquest that there had been instances of the agency employees at the home using log-in credentials borrowed from regular staff there.

There had been claims over such log-in credentials being the responsibility of the care home or the agency and he set a deadline of three weeks for the receipt of the required details, regarding record keeping and agency staff use.

The inquest heard that Mr Watson’s condition had been deteriorating through the day he died, as he refused food, and concern at his condition prompted the senior health care assistant to call the NHS 111 service.

When no clinician was available and she was told to wait for a call back, a colleague rang 999 and an ambulance arrived shortly after 9pm.

Mr Cassidy said he was satisfied that, while the time between the 111 and 999 calls caused “a clear and regrettable delay”, it did not play a part in Mt Watson’s death following an acute medica deterioration.

He felt Mr Watson’s death had occurred very close to the arrival of the paramedics.