Falsified patient records linked to 12 deaths

A mental health trust may have falsified records of up to 12 deceased patients, according to a coroner’s report.

Saba Naqshbandi KC, assistant coroner for Inner North London, said staff at East London Foundation Trust had faked observation records, claiming to have checked on patients when they had not. 

A member of the trust’s staff admitted to falsifying records in the case of 40-year-old patient Mahamoud Hussain Ali.

In a prevention of future deaths report published last week, the coroner said investigations commissioned by ELFT following Mr Ali’s death uncovered 11 further “fatal incidents” where records may have been fabricated. 

In a message to staff in October 2023, seen by the coroner, ELFT admitted that instances of records being fabricated were increasing.

It said: “We have seen an increase in occasions where observation records have not been completed but records falsified to reflect that they had been done.” 

Ms Naqshbandi wrote in the PFD report: “I am concerned that action undertaken thus far by the trust has not been sufficient to ensure that observations are being conducted and/or recorded as required, which in my opinion gives rise to a concern that future deaths will occur.”

Read full story (paywalled)

Source: HSJ, 8 August 2024