Humber NHS Foundation Trust to investigate 83 patients’ deaths

Following on from the story in the local press that investigations into the deaths of 83 patients in the care of the Humber NHS Foundation Trust story, Williamsons Solicitors’ Clinical Negligence Specialist Solicitor, Wayne Walker, provides an insight into the likely outcome of the Trust’s investigation.

Wayne Walker is currently assisting one of the families affected to identify the failings which has in part prompted the Trust to investigate further cases of a similar nature to ensure lessons are learnt. In particular, whether there are symptomatic problems which need to be identified and addressed.

The Humber NHS Foundation Trust provides a number of services, both in the community and also as an inpatient, for mental health issues. They also provide learning disability services, healthy lifestyle support and addictions services to people living in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire, a population of approximately 600,000.

Tom Phillips, Deputy Director of nursing and quality of the Humber NHS Foundation Trust, told board members that, in addition to the investigations, a “look-back exercise” was being undertaken to ensure improvements following deaths over the previous 30 months. He went on to say “I am undertaking a review of serious incidents resulting in deaths. That will pick out areas that are common and scrutinise action plans in those 83 cases.”

The recurrent issues when dealing with such an investigation may identify problems with communication. It is likely that the investigation, in many of the incidence of death, will show that patients generally were unable to access longer term community mental health treatment and support, even if they are able to do so, the inefficiencies in that care sometimes can result in catastrophic consequences leaving a patient with an opportunity to commit suicide.

From the statistics, it is concerning to note the high level of deaths in the past 2 ½ years which equates to approximately 3 per month.

There are occasions where a patient has complex needs. These complexities are exacerbated due to the lack of a thorough, consistent and systematic approach within the assessment, formulation and management of the patient’s needs. There is usually an informal system of reporting, sharing clinical information and a lack of adherence to the care programme. Such an approach does not represent best practice and increases the likelihood of avoidable harm being suffered by a patient.

Wayne Walker says: “having been a Specialist in Clinical Negligence claims for over 10 years, I get the impression that the pending investigation is necessary and important. The figures alone suggest that the assessment of patient risk is not being dealt with in an appropriate manner.

I would be surprised if some of the patient deaths and other episodes of serious harm were not avoidable, had a more thorough, consistent and systematic approach been followed.”