Ivanika Olivari
7 Mar 2018 · Coroner Fiona Wilcox · London Inner (West)
The coroner's concerns
1. lack of message access
“doctors should leave messages on answerphones for patients to make contact with them in urgent and emergency situations”
2. unreachable patient
“doctors should attempt to contact patients via all contact phone numbers that they have access to for patients in urgent and emergency situations”
3. delayed life threatening care
“risk to life should be considered the priority”
4. outdated protocols
“hospital guidelines and St George's hospital guidelines in particular, in relation to such matters, should be updated and amended to reflect the above where needed.”
5. inadequate staff training
“all relevant staff have their training updated in a prompt and auditable fashion”
6. unclear GMC guidance
“GMC considers its guidance for doctors and amend where necessary”
Responses
2018-0073-Response-by-General-Medical-Council.pdf ↗· General Medical Council
Stated action
“The GMC considers its guidance for.doctors and amend where necessary to ensure that it is clear that messages may be left for patients in urgent and emergency situations.”
2018-0073-Response-by-St-Georges-University-Hospital-NHS-Trust.pdf ↗· St George's Hospital