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Inquiry into death of Jessie Taylor questions NHS 24 process
A Fife sheriff on Friday questioned whether or not algorithms used by NHS 24 call handlers in determining the most appropriate course of action for patients could be wrong.
Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline.
Published in the Courier : 29.01.11
Published online : 29.01.11 @ 10.35am
Sheriff Grant McCulloch made the query during the fatal accident inquiry into the death of Jessie Taylor, who passed away at Dunfermline's Queen Margaret Hospital on Sunday, September 20, 2009.
Mrs Taylor (65), who died due to multiple organ failure caused by streptococcal sepsis and pneumonia in her right lung, had been admitted to an infectious diseases ward at Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital the previous day after it was thought swine flu may have been a possible diagnosis.
Her family believe her death may have been avoided if the right treatment for her condition had been given earlier.
In the final day of evidence at the inquiry, NHS 24 medical director Dr George Crooks said NHS 24 provides telephone assessment and triage to patients principally out of hours, with senior nurses with at least five years of post-qualification experience taking calls.
Describing the skill set as being "one of the highest trained" in the whole of NHS Scotland, he revealed how algorithms are used by call handlers to determine an appropriate course of action ? ranging from patients being told to self care to immediate transfer to hospital....more at the link.