Coroner is asked to review deaths of nursing home residents
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《英国医生杂志》
A coroner has been asked to look into the deaths of 13 elderly residents who died in a UK nursing home after a review found that standards there raised "serious concerns."
Twenty eight residents died at the Maypole Nursing Home in Birmingham between 2002 and 2003. The home, which has 36 beds, failed to notify care standard officials of 15 of these deaths. It was closed in March 2003 after an inspection by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.
Birmingham and Black Country Strategic Health Authority then coordinated a wide ranging review, which found that the home was failing to meet many of the required national minimum standards and regulations. These included failures of general management, nursing and general care, physical standards, staffing and recruitment, and recording and reporting. The authority also worked with the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Commission for Social Care Inspection, and the police during its investigations.
The authority said in a statement last week: "All investigations arising from this case are now complete, with the exception of the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and the coroner. The police are not actively investigating, but it remains open, pending advice and guidance from the coroner."
Thirteen of the deaths have been referred to Aidan Cotter, coroner for the city of Birmingham and the borough of Solihull. He said that he was currently taking advice from doctors involved in the case before deciding on further action. Deaths are generally reported to coroners when no doctor has treated the deceased person during his or her last illness or when the death was sudden, unexpected, or unnatural. Coroners have a duty to find out the medical cause of all deaths reported to them.
After inspection of the home in March 2003 South Birmingham Primary Care Trust referred the two family doctors who looked after the residents to the General Medical Council. Dr Jamalapuram Hari-Gopal and his wife, Dr Pratury Samrajya Lakshmi, of the Philip Clarke Medical Centre, Kings Heath, were also temporarily suspended by the trust, pending the outcome of investigations.
A review of Dr Hari-Gopal抯 suspension was carried out in December 2003, when it was agreed that he should return to work at the centre in January 2004, with additional support, including locum cover, provided by the trust. After a comprehensive review of her professional services Dr Lakshmi remains suspended by the GMC.
In June 2004 the GMC decided to hold a public hearing into the professional conduct of both doctors. This is yet to take place. Seven nurses employed by the home are also facing an investigation by their regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
As a result of the review, South Birmingham Primary Care Trust said: "We have shared serious concerns and referred 13 of the 23 deceased residents to the coroner. The coroner, who has been kept informed during the progress of the investigation, will now consider whether he needs to investigate."(London Susan Mayor)
Twenty eight residents died at the Maypole Nursing Home in Birmingham between 2002 and 2003. The home, which has 36 beds, failed to notify care standard officials of 15 of these deaths. It was closed in March 2003 after an inspection by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.
Birmingham and Black Country Strategic Health Authority then coordinated a wide ranging review, which found that the home was failing to meet many of the required national minimum standards and regulations. These included failures of general management, nursing and general care, physical standards, staffing and recruitment, and recording and reporting. The authority also worked with the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Commission for Social Care Inspection, and the police during its investigations.
The authority said in a statement last week: "All investigations arising from this case are now complete, with the exception of the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and the coroner. The police are not actively investigating, but it remains open, pending advice and guidance from the coroner."
Thirteen of the deaths have been referred to Aidan Cotter, coroner for the city of Birmingham and the borough of Solihull. He said that he was currently taking advice from doctors involved in the case before deciding on further action. Deaths are generally reported to coroners when no doctor has treated the deceased person during his or her last illness or when the death was sudden, unexpected, or unnatural. Coroners have a duty to find out the medical cause of all deaths reported to them.
After inspection of the home in March 2003 South Birmingham Primary Care Trust referred the two family doctors who looked after the residents to the General Medical Council. Dr Jamalapuram Hari-Gopal and his wife, Dr Pratury Samrajya Lakshmi, of the Philip Clarke Medical Centre, Kings Heath, were also temporarily suspended by the trust, pending the outcome of investigations.
A review of Dr Hari-Gopal抯 suspension was carried out in December 2003, when it was agreed that he should return to work at the centre in January 2004, with additional support, including locum cover, provided by the trust. After a comprehensive review of her professional services Dr Lakshmi remains suspended by the GMC.
In June 2004 the GMC decided to hold a public hearing into the professional conduct of both doctors. This is yet to take place. Seven nurses employed by the home are also facing an investigation by their regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
As a result of the review, South Birmingham Primary Care Trust said: "We have shared serious concerns and referred 13 of the 23 deceased residents to the coroner. The coroner, who has been kept informed during the progress of the investigation, will now consider whether he needs to investigate."(London Susan Mayor)