Karen O'Brien
15 Jul 2015 · Coroner Roy Palmer · London (City)
This report repeats 1 earlier warning. See the linked reports.
The coroner's concerns
1. clinical determination without face-to-face assessment
“It is difficult to understand how there can be a clinical determination by SEPT without more inquiry and, preferably, some face-to-face assessment of the patient by a mental health professional.”
2. misapplication of NICE guideline
“The NICE guidance is stated to be a recommendation. It must therefore be presumed not to be applied slavishly without careful assessment.”
3. overriding GP referral without justification
“On what basis did SEPT decide to override the GP's request?”
4. guideline reconsideration needed
“I respectfully invite NICE to reconsider the guideline.”
Linked reports
Closely relatedConfidence 0.80 · moderate
Earlier report
“The Emergency Department doctors indicated that they could not get a CT of the head because "the NICE Guidelines do not indicate as being appropriate where there are no obvious neurological signs".”
This report
“The NICE guidance is stated to be a recommendation. It must therefore be presumed not to be applied slavishly without careful assessment.”
Responses
No published response was found on judiciary.uk.