Preventable Deaths Tracker (learning to prevent future deaths)
image credit: Stuart Miles at www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net
source: Preventable Deaths Tracker | first published: June 2023
One in five deaths are preventable every year. But, less than 1% have a coroners’ Prevention of Future Deaths report (PFD) written.
PFDs are written by coroners and sent to individuals or organisations that have the power to act. Those that receive PFDs must respond to the coroner within 56 days outlining actions taken, proposed or provide an explanation for inaction.
However, there is no mechanism to ensure that responses are received, actions are taken, and lessons are learnt to prevent future deaths.
The Preventable Deaths Tracker is trying to change this.
The team
This project was founded by Dr Georgia Richards in 2020 with support from a team of academics, clinicians and coroners from the University of Oxford, the University of Birmingham, and London.
The team has been undertaken research on coroners’ Prevention of Future Deaths reports (PFDs) and acted as expert witnesses in coronial courts and other legal cases related to PFDs for decades.
Preventable Deaths Tracker's work
"Our work spans three areas, including 1) research, 2) education, and 3) communication.
"We design studies to answer important questions for public health and safety. We write scientific reports and academic publications, with more than 20 published to date.
"We conduct training for users of the Preventable Deaths Database, the writing of PFDs, and advise on digital processes to improve the PFD system."
