Nicholas Pennicott
11 May 2023 · Coroner Penelope Schofield · West Sussex
This report repeats 1 earlier warning, and was raised again 1 time later. See the linked reports.
The coroner's concerns
1. delayed neurology outpatient appointments
“long waiting times for neurology outpatient appointments was a persistent challenge for the Trust due to capacity issues within the neurology service”
2. shortage of neurologists
“shortage of Neurologists nationally and the capacity issues within the neurology service at the Hospital led to a missed opportunity for Mr PENNICOTT to receive earlier specialist assessment”
3. three-year neurology consultant vacancy
“long-term vacancy, of three years, within the neurology service for a substantive neurology consultant at the hospital”
4. reliance on locum consultants
“The Trust had relied on long term locum consultants, leading to some short-term gaps in provision”
5. national neurologist shortage
“national shortage of neurologists”
Linked reports
Closely relatedConfidence 0.80 · moderate
Earlier report
“There are particular difficulties with securing a complete sequence of employment and the associated references and confirmation about concerns for fitness to practice of long term locum doctors who may have gaps between jobs or worked abroad”
This report
“The Trust had relied on long term locum consultants, leading to some short-term gaps in provision.”
Closely relatedConfidence 0.90 · high
This report
“long waiting times for neurology outpatient appointments was a persistent challenge for the Trust due to capacity issues within the neurology service.”
Later report
“The waiting times for outpatient neurology appointments is in the region of 9 months for the trust concerned.”
Responses
2023-0149-Response-from-NHS-England.pdf ↗· NHS England
Stated action
“I note that the Trust aims to see urgent referrals within 4 weeks and has committed to making further improvements across its neurology service.”
2023-0149-Response-from-Universityt-Hospitals-Sussex-NHS-Foundation-Trust.pdf ↗· NHS England
Stated action · May 2023
“The Trust now has 3 consultant sessions per week for neurology consultants to provide advice and guidance for GPs. This is a new facility which was introduced in May 2023, for GPs to access advice prior to or instead of referring for an outpatient clinic”