Andrew Heys

I am John Stanley POLLARD, Assistant Coroner for the coroner area of Manchester West

INVESTIGATION  and INQUEST On 21 March 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Andrew Dominic HEYS aged 29.  The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 08 January 2025.  The conclusion of the inquest was ‘Open’ and the medical cause of death was established as la) Drowning II)      Post-Vaccination Auto-Immune Encephalopathy.

In December 2021 the deceased received the vaccination against Covid 19.  This was his booster.  He reacted very badly to the vaccination and thereafter suffered from Auto- Immune Encephalopathy, the effects of which were devastating both physically and mentally.  On the 12th March 2024 the deceased went to a bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal, climbed over the parapet and fell into the water.  His body was discovered four days later.

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: During the course of the evidence, the GP, who was acting on behalf of BARDOC, the out of hours provider, indicated to me that she had never been trained by BARDOC, in how to follow their  ‘pathways’;  this meant that she ‘closed’ the call alter speaking to the patient, rather than returning it to the Ambulance Service as should have happened. She was also confused about how she could access the patient’s own GP records; again, she said she had not had any training in this regard. During the course of the evidence, I heard, yet again, the common complaint that one health professional is unable to access the health records of the patient held by another health professional. In this case, the manager of the 111 Helpline agreed that the various IT systems do not “talk to each other”. It is of concern to me as to why all bona fide health professionals cannot have access to all health data held anywhere within the NHS.

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.