Preventable deaths related to haemorrhage in England and Wales, 2013–2022: A systematic case series of coroners’ reports

Abstract

Objectives To identify preventable haemorrhage-related deaths, classify coroner concerns and explore organisational responses. Study design Retrospective systematic case series of coroners’ Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) reports from 1st July 2013 to 16 November 2022, in England and Wales. Methods Reports were acquired from the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website and screened for haemorrhage-related deaths using a reproducible automated computer code. Demographic information, coroners’ concerns, and organisational responses to PFDs were extracted and analysed, including risk factors predisposing to haemorrhage. Results 339 PFDs (8 % of all PFDs) involved a haemorrhage event contributing to death. The average age of death was 78 years, and 57 % were male. The majority of haemorrhages were intracranial (64 %). 31 % of haemorrhage-related PFDs reported the use of anticoagulation, most often warfarin. Coroners reported 942 concerns directly relevant to the haemorrhage event, including failures to follow protocols, guidelines, or risk assessments (17 %), failures in communication or handovers (14 %), and failures in providing appropriate care, including investigations and observations (13 %). Just under half (48 %) of PFDs did not have responses published on the Judiciary website. Of the organisations who responded, 85 % reported plans to initiate new changes to address these concerns. Improvements most frequently focused on improving protocols, pathways and guidance documents, as well as education and training. Conclusions Coroner PFDs offer unique insights into haemorrhage-related deaths, highlighting the systems and processes which fail in everyday practice. Improving awareness and dissemination of these reports to clinicians and policymakers nationally may improve patient safety and save lives