What a week. On Monday Assistant Coroner Abigail Combes delivered a blistering conclusion in Sheffield Coroner’s Court, into the death of Laura Jane Booth. Laura died in October 2016, but there was no inquest into the circumstances of Laura’s death. 18 months later an inquest was opened following the intervention of BBC Breakfast journalist Jayne […]
A year ago right now I was lying on my Mum’s bed, holding her hand and talking to her as she spent her last living, breathing hour on this earth. Mum was at peace with the fact she was dying, and that peace was a total gift to those of us who love her. Given […]
I’ve spent the last fortnight in Ipswich, live tweeting the inquest of Richard Handley, a young man whose life was cut short in it’s prime, aged just 33. I’ve spent break times with Richard’s family in the court jury room, listening to the telling of tales and the sort of family folklore that we’d all […]
I can’t believe that I’m writing this blog post. I can’t believe that anything I’m about to say should need saying, so I’m going to try and keep it short. I’ve written a couple of previous blogs about my experience of the #CQCDeathsReview and my last ended with a section that shared the header of […]
The CQC Deaths Review publishes today. You can download and read the report here. It makes for a gut churning read. The headline message is that the NHS is failing to identify deaths that need investigating, failing to investigate properly (when investigations happen) and failing to learn lessons, improve care or prevent future deaths. It […]
Alternative title, not to be used publicly: how to protect your reputation at all costs When a patient dies Don’t bother apologising or the family might get the wrong idea and try to sue us. Assign as much as possible to ‘natural causes’, especially if they’re using mental health services, have a physical disability or are learning […]
All week we’ve been sharing some of the lowlights from LB’s inquest a year ago. Sara has blogged about how this strange anniversary feels for her and the utter despair at the complete absence, still, of anything vaguely resembling accountability: I think my new tear configuration has (re) emerged because of the utterly shameful banality […]
I’m training for #CaminoLB at the moment which mostly involves wandering around in walking boots and a rucksack, putting one foot in front of the other and musing the latest madness at Southern Health. There’s been a lot of musing this week (although slightly less walking) as the latest development has seen Katrina Percy, CEO […]
The aspect of the #CQCDeathsReview that I’m most involved with focuses on the experience and treatment of families and bereaved relatives. This is the area that I’m most experienced in, and most interested in. It doesn’t come without some reservations and concerns though, some of which I’ve previously blogged here. I’m lucky because I have […]
A couple of weeks ago I watched a documentary on Barack Obama’s time as President of the USA. I was in the US when he was elected and wrote about the power of hope and optimism on my personal blog as he campaigned for re-election four years later (as Dad was dying). The documentary clearly […]