Matthew Roberts
9 Feb 2017 · Coroner Bridget Dolan QC · West Sussex
The coroner's concerns
1. faxed pages missing important information
“That there was no relevant policy, procedure or practice requiring faxes to the Bognor EI team be logged and scrutinised on receipt so that it might noted if faxed pages were missing and potentially important information not received.”
2. information not read before risk assessment
“That there was no policy, procedure or practice, requiring a member of the EI team to read written information provided by a referrer before the zoning meeting and initial risk assessment. Additionally it was practice, on occasions, for the information to be left unread until shortly before the first face to first appointment with the patient. Hence the determination of patient's needs, the current level of risk and the urgency with which the first contact should be made with a patient was not informed”
3. unclear confirmation of contact date
“That there was no relevant policy, procedure or practice whereby the Bognor EI team would clearly confirm with the referrer the date on which contact with a newly referred patient would be made.”
Responses
2017-0028-Response-by-Sussex-Partnership-NHS-Trust.pdf ↗· Sussex Partnership NHS Trust
Stated action
“All Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust staff must complete Information Governance training annually to ensure that information received and sent is managed safely and effectively. The training includes clear guidance on receiving and sending faxes. 88% of staff employed in our Early Intervention in Psychosis Services (EIPS) have completed this training within the last year.”