A NUMBER of initiatives to better support patient safety are being reviewed and implemented across the General Hospital following the death of a vulnerable 72-year-old mother who became septic after a gallbladder operation.
A recent inquest into the death of Islander Sue Brizell identified a multitude of failings across the Hospital’s post-operative care strategy, including “delays in escalation” and an absence of “clinical curiosity” towards emerging symptoms of sepsis.
And concerns raised by Amanda Littleton, Ms Brizell’s daughter, that her mother had become septic two days prior to her death were “dismissed” by the staff nurse.
Acting coroner Dr Deryn Evans ultimately concluded that family members of Ms Brizell “were not adequately heard” and their “concerns not listened to” as sepsis took hold.
Giving evidence during the hearing, lead nurse Clare Ash promised Ms Brizell’s family members a “big piece of work around our culture change” in response to the passing of their loved one.
Ms Ash noted that the Hospital’s policy of “restricted visiting hours” for family members – which was brought in during the pandemic – was no longer serving its original purpose.
The Health Department has now confirmed that it is “looking to review its visitors’ policy” as part of work being undertaken “in relation to our Eat Drink Dress Move (EDDM) campaign which is due to be launched later this year”.
The department also said that it has spent £10,000 on The Safer Nursing Care Tool (SCNT), an “evidence-based system which determines optimal staff levels on hospital wards”.
The issue of nursing staff levels was raised in the inquest by Ms Brizell’s family, who said that their loved one was not given sufficient attention by hospital staff following her gallbladder operation.
“HCJ is in the process of recruiting a safer staffing lead nurse”, the spokesperson added. “Part of their role will be to embed the SNCT into practice.”
Deputy Medical Director John McInerney stated during the inquest that the Hospital hired a “sepsis nurse educator” following Ms Brizell’s death, but Health has since confirmed that it is instead relying on a “nurse educator” who is “reviewing our sepsis policy”.
Surgeon Jon Shenfield, who performed the gallbladder operation, said during the hearing that Ms Brizell’s experience after her procedure highlighted the need for a “surgical high dependency unit”, which would give patients who are post-operatively at-risk more exposure to nurses.
Health did not confirm whether it is considering Dr Shenfield’s recommendation, but said that the department is “continually looking to enhance patient care”.
“The new Acute Hospital will include a 15-bed Critical Care Unit,” a spokesperson said, “Which has the flexibility to be segregated and configured according to the individual needs of patients requiring different levels of care.”
