Coroner requests report from Colchester Hospital 'to prevent future deaths'

A CORONER who ruled a young woman’s death could have been avoided has filed a report to the NHS trust which runs Colchester Hospital requesting “a timetable for action”.

A four-day inquest into the death of Chloe Hunt concluded last month with area coroner for Essex, Sonia Hayes, saying there was “a lack of urgency” in treating Miss Hunt.

The inquest was told how Miss Hunt, 21, was admitted to Colchester Hospital in March 2022 after self-harming by swallowing four pens.

An operation to remove them did not take place for another three days, and Miss Hunt went into cardiac arrest hours after two of the four pens were extracted.

Inquest – a coroner oversaw a four-day inquest into the death of Chloe Hunt (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Staff at Colchester Hospital attempted to resuscitate Miss Hunt but blood readings were not taken for nearly 20 minutes, a failing the coroner described at the inquest as “unacceptable”.

Ms Hayes has now prepared what is known as a prevention of future deaths report for the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), the organisation which runs Colchester Hospital.

She wrote: “In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and your organisation have the power to take such action.”

Under a section titled “Coroner’s Concerns”, Ms Hayes warned future deaths may occur if action is not taken.

She wrote: “During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern.

“In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken.

“There was a lack of urgency in treating Chloe and lack of recognition of her deteriorating clinical condition.

“Chloe was tachycardic throughout her admission with low blood pressure and there was no investigation of the underlying cause in a young otherwise physically healthy woman.”

She continued by explaining that irregular changes in Miss Hunt’s heart rate “were not as signs Chloe was a deteriorating patient.”

Changes – an ESNEFT spokesman said Colchester Hospital had made 'significant changes' following Chloe Hunt's death (Image: Newsquest)

ESNEFT is required to respond to the coroner’s report by Monday, August 12.

Ms Hayes wrote: “Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action.

“Otherwise, you must explain why no action is proposed.”

A copy of the coroner’s report will also be sent to the chief coroner for Essex and the Care Quality Commission.

ESNEFT's chief medical officer, Dr Angela Tillett, said the trust welcomes the coroner's report.

She said: "Our deepest sympathies go out to Chloe’s family for their loss.

"We welcome the coroner's report and take the concerns raised in it very seriously.

"The trust's full response to those concerns will be shared with the coroner in due course.

"We are, however, committed to take forward any lessons learned from Chloe's death to better our processes and services.”

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