North London NHS Trust Admits Flawed Records After Patient Death Inquest

An inquest into the death of Najib Naagi has exposed systemic failures in patient observation records at a North London NHS Foundation Trust hospital. Naagi, 55, died on 4 January 2025 from chronic heart and lung failure after being found unresponsive in his secure ward the previous day. The trust, which operates 50 locations across five north London boroughs, admitted its record-keeping processes were flawed and posed risks to patient safety.

Senior Coroner for Inner North London, Mary Hassell, ruled that a clinical support worker had misled the inquest by exaggerating the frequency of checks on Naagi. Hospital policy required hourly observations through a bedroom panel to monitor breathing and wellbeing. However, CCTV footage showed the worker conducted only two checks in three hours, with a 90-minute gap between them.

Read Next in Barnet Press3 min read

Mayor Launches £1.8bn Plan for Swimmable London Rivers

A ten-year strategy aims to restore wildlife habitats and improve water quality across the capital's waterways.

Falsified records and trust response

The worker initially repeated the false claim in a witness statement and oral evidence. She did not correct the record until the coroner challenged her during the hearing. Hassell concluded that the falsification risked undermining healthcare professionals’ understanding of Naagi’s condition and misled the court.

The trust’s observation policy states records must be made immediately and only document direct observations. Retrospective entries are considered serious misconduct. However, the trust’s recording form pre-populated timings, forcing staff to amend or annotate delays rather than log exact check times.

Related Borough Coverage3 min read

Charing Cross Hospital patient suffered incorrect invasive line insertion

The incident was classified as a never event by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust despite the patient remaining unharmed.

In a statement on 10 July 2026, the trust’s Chief Medical Officer confirmed a full investigation had been carried out. The worker received a formal written warning and was placed on a performance improvement plan. This includes retraining in observation procedures, a competency check, and a record-keeping exercise.

“The Trust fully accepts the gravity of this situation and that incidents involving significant departures from professional standards of conduct and/or, most significantly, dishonesty can have regulatory and/or legal consequences.”

North London NHS Foundation Trust Chief Medical Officer

Policy changes and oversight

The trust has since revised its observation form to allow staff to record exact check times. Updated policies now explicitly require precise timings. Additional measures include monthly observation audits, out-of-hours senior manager reviews, and daily “safety huddles” across all hospitals.

The trust delivers specialist and mental healthcare services across Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Camden, and Islington. It is unclear which of its 50 locations was involved in Naagi’s care. The trust did not respond to requests for further details by publication.

What happens next

The clinical support worker remains employed but is subject to ongoing monitoring under the performance improvement plan. The trust has not disclosed whether further disciplinary action is under consideration. Residents concerned about observation standards at local NHS facilities can contact the trust’s patient advice and liaison service for information.