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Coroner 'Shocked' by Trust's Omission in Patient Death Inquiry
8 Jan
Summary
- A hospital trust allegedly misled a coroner about how a patient died.
- Critical first-hand report details about the patient's fall were initially withheld.
- The patient suffered a catastrophic brain injury after a fall in May 2024.
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is under scrutiny after an area coroner accused it of misleading the court regarding the death of patient Gregory Dervin. Dervin, 35, died from a catastrophic brain injury sustained in a fall at Broomfield Hospital on May 3, 2024. The coroner was initially provided with an incomplete report that omitted crucial details about the incident.
Area coroner Sonia Hayes stated she was "shocked and disappointed" by the trust's actions, emphasizing that the court had been "misled." It later emerged that a more comprehensive report, detailing Dervin's fall and injuries, was available but not initially presented. The trust's falls lead explained this was due to an oversight in accessing online data, not deliberate withholding.
Dervin's family had reportedly pleaded for closer observation of the patient, who was being treated for a heart issue. An inquest heard that his death, occurring a week after the fall despite treatment at Addenbrooke's Hospital, might have been prevented with adequate supervision. The inquest was adjourned, with the trust ordered to conduct a full review of its evidence.
