David Moore

I am Dr Karen Henderson, HM Assistant Coroner for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove.

On 7th January 2022 I resumed an investigation into the death of David Bryan Moore sitting with a Jury. On 21st July 2022, the investigation was concluded: The medical cause of death given was: 1a. Hypoxic ischaemic brain injury 1b. Cardiac arrest 1c. Dislodged tracheostomy tube and delayed replacement 1d. Burns suffered in an industrial accident requiring a tracheostomy tube II. Obesity, Hypertension The jury determined: Mr Moore was a self-employed industrial electrician, employed on the 29th May 2021 to change a molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) at a property in Uxbridge. Mr Moore energized the circuit to allow the front doors of the property to open. On doing this the metal plate divider between the MCCB’s made contact with the exposed live bus bars resulting in an electrical flashover. As a result, Mr Moore sustained burns covering 32 % of his body surface area. Mr Moore was transferred to St Mary’s Hospital where he was intubated, ventilated and had surgical release of burns in his upper arms to improve blood supply. Following this Mr Moore was transferred to the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead on the same day for further management of his burns. On the 3rd June 2021, an adjustable flanged tracheostomy was undertaken, due to the size of Mr Moore¶s neck and difficulties arising from his injuries. On the 10th  June 2021 whilst being turned onto his right side to change dressings the tracheostomy became dislodged from his trachea resulting in an hypoxic cardiac arrest. The airway was re-established and following six cycles of CPR he was successfully resuscitated. It was determined that Mr Moore suffered a non-survivable cerebral hypoxic brain injury. Mr Moore died at 17.20 hours on 14th June 2021 after an agreement was made to withdraw care.

The conclusion of the jury at the Inquest provides a summary of the circumstances which led Mr Moore to be admitted to Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead for ongoing management and describes the circumstances of his death. During the hearing itself I heard evidence that there was an absence of national and local guidelines for the management of flanged tracheostomy tubes in particular relating to their ongoing assessment of their position in the trachea and in circumstances whereby no specific assessment was ongoing for Mr Moore within the High Dependency Unit for such assessment. As a consequence, Mr Moore’s flanged tracheostomy tube became dislodged and the time taken to re-establish his airway resulted in an hypoxic brain injury incompatible with survival.

During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows: (brief summary of matters of concern)

1. Guidelines for the anaesthetic and/or Intensive Care management of a flanged tracheostomy tube

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or your organisation) have the power to take such action.