HEALTH bosses have been told to take action following an inquest into the death of a patient.

Senior Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray has issued a Prevention of Future Death report to Fern House Surgery in Witham.

Joanna Flynn had been under the care of Dr Ahmed Mayet at Fern House Surgery since May 2018.

She was found unresponsive on her bed on May 26 this year.

Joanna, 31, had been dead for three days before she was found by a friend. Making it difficult for post-mortem examinations to determine a cause of death.

It was revealed Joanna had an extensive medical history including Chrohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, anxiety and insomnia at an inquest into her death at the Essex Coroner’s Court in Chelmsford last Thursday.

The court heard Dr Mayet had been trying to wean Joanna off several medications including morphine and oxycodone, an opioid medication for pain, in the months leading up to her death.

At the time of her death Joanna was on 21 different medications.

Speaking at the inquest Dr Mayet said: “There was a lack of services available to Joanna to help her. The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) need more services in place.”

The surgery also suffered a computer glitch which meant some of Joanna’s records were lost.

Joanna’s mother, Wendy Cronshey, told the inquest: “My daughter always talked very favourably of her GP.

“The fact my daughter had to die for the surgery to mend its system is my concern. Is it going to take somebody else’s daughter to die for every surgery to create an action plan?”

Since Joanna’s death the surgery has changed its computer system and a pilot scheme has been set up to help patients.

Mrs Beasley-Murray recorded an open verdict due to a lack of evidence.

She said: “The court is deeply concerned about this situation.

“The court will be writing a Prevention of Future Death report and wishes for evidence the scheme is being implemented.

“It’s quite unsatisfactory there is not a date on this document outlining when this will begin.

“The deceased suffered from a number of long-standing medical conditions. It’s not possible to conclude a cause of death.”

Coroners issue a Prevention of Future Death report to any organisation where, in the opinion of the coroner, action should be taken to prevent future deaths.

The report is sent to whoever the coroner believes has the power to take such action and the recipient has 56 days to respond.