Paula Elsley
6 Feb 2024 · Coroner Robert Simpson · Berkshire
The coroner's concerns
1. lack of accessible smoking status records
“During the inquest I heard evidence that a patient's smoking status (current or former) was not routinely recorded by the GP practice in a manner that was immediately accessible when reviewing the medical records”
2. failure to apply NICE chest x-ray referral thresholds
“Based on evidence heard at inquest I am concerned that at the time of [the deceased]'s death (March 2022) the same NICE guideline was not being routinely considered by GPs”