Patient Neglected Due to Poor Communication Between Hospital Trusts, Leading to Death
A patient in a North East hospital trust has tragically died due to serious communication issues between hospital trusts. Brian Moreton passed away at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle in May 2022 after facing neglect and inadequate communication between North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) and Newcastle Hospitals Trust.
The coroner, James Thompson, criticized the way these two hospital trusts communicated during Mr. Moreton’s treatment. There were clear lapses in coordination and effective information sharing, leading to dire consequences.
Mr. Moreton was initially admitted to Cumberland Infirmary in March 2021 with symptoms such as diarrhea, recurring fever, and a distended abdomen. However, the CT scan indicated a toxic megacolon, but this information was not reported to the medical staff treating him.
Despite being prescribed a high dose of immunosuppressant drugs, Mr. Moreton’s condition did not improve. As a result, he was transferred to Freeman Hospital in Newcastle exactly one month later.
Unfortunately, the medical team in Newcastle discovered that his bowel had perforated, and although they operated on him, he remained seriously ill due to subsequent infections. Eventually, Mr. Moreton succumbed to these infections on May 6, 2022.
During the inquest into his death, it became evident that inaccurate and misleading information had been exchanged between clinicians involved in Mr. Moreton’s care. The internal communication system was found to be prone to error, with clinicians receiving briefings from individuals who were not directly involved in imaging patients.
One significant issue highlighted during the inquiry was that radiologists did not have access to patients’ comprehensive medical notes. Instead, they based their reports solely on a summary document provided by the department requesting imaging. In Mr. Moreton’s case, this summary document omitted crucial information regarding his recurring fever.
This lapse in communication led doctors in Newcastle to mistakenly believe that the treatment received in Cumberland had been effective enough to contemplate his discharge from the hospital.
In response to the concerns raised by the coroner, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) stated that they have already implemented changes to improve communication not only with other trusts but also regarding the care of patients with complex bowel diseases.
A spokesperson for NCIC expressed their sincere condolences to Mr. Moreton’s family and acknowledged the need for further changes and improvements based on the feedback from the coroner.
It is clear that the poor and misleading communications between clinicians, departments, and hospital trusts have had severe consequences for patient care in this tragic case. The coroner has urged action to prevent similar deaths in the future, and it is crucial for organizations to address these concerns promptly and effectively.
The loss of Brian Moreton highlights the importance of effective communication and coordination between hospital trusts. It is essential that healthcare providers prioritize clear and accurate information sharing to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients. By learning from cases like this, healthcare organizations can make improvements that will save lives and prevent further tragedies.
