Kenneth Swift

(2) It was said in evidence that: No falls sensor was immediately available- Mr Swift was put on a ‘waiting list’ of 34 existing patients needing such equipment. The cost of a chair sensor was said to be £60; of a bed sensor £90. The Hospital was said to be in a tendering process to acquire such equipment. In the relevant Ward (AMU/AMB) 95% of the usual 30 patients (when full) at any one time would have been assessed at risk of falls. Four sensors have been acquired since Mr Swift’s death for use at the present time in that Ward. (3) Such a mechanism may have made staff aware that Mr Swift, an elderly man known to be capable of confusion and already suffering from infection that could be aggravated by immobility if injured, was mobilising unsupervised. (4) That in this Ward at least there is the potential for future deaths resulting from, or the aggravation of, conditions by the consequences of falls in other patients. 6 ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and your organisation have the power to take such action. 7 YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by Wednesday 20 September 2017. I, the coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed. 8 COPIES and PUBLICATION I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons, namely I am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response. The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. 9 26 July 2017 Signed