Coroner exonerates nursing home staff after widow's death

Roger Whittaker spoke out as a court at Halifax Town Hall heard how Irene Sanderson died weeks later in hospital after an unwitnessed fall at Ingwood Nursing Home, Greetland, where she had lived for three years. She died from pneumonia which had developed from a brain injury

In March, assistant deputy coroner James Turnbull adjourned an inquest into her death after staff from the home turned up without legal representation. He told the hearing the company was placing its employees in a "bear pit".

Yesterday, Mr Whittaker started the case afresh. After hearing how Mrs Sanderson died he dismissed criticism from her family saying: "She had excellent and appropriate care there. I have no criticism of the home in that context.''

The court heard how the independent but frail woman fell at the Stainland Road nursing home during the night on January 2 but was not taken to hospital until the next day. She died at Calderdale Royal Hospital on February 1.

He added: ''My view of the evidence accords with that of Staff Nurse Heather Green that she had been sitting in a chair watching TV and for some reason got up, wanted to use her zimmer to mobilise herself and had fallen at that stage. There was no serious injury.

"There is a suggestion that she should have been taken to hospital earlier but I accept that her (Mrs Green's) examination was thorough and appropriate and Mrs Sanderson had a good night.''

Earlier, Jonathan Dixon, representing Mrs Sanderson's son, Barry Hughes, addressed Mr Whittaker directly saying he was bound to "express the family's concern about the treatment she received after the fall. I would ask you to consider if there was any neglect on the part of the home which has contributed to Mrs Sanderson's death''.

But Henry Kirkup, representing the home, said: "Carers asked themselves the right questions and carried out their duties correctly.''

Expert witness Dr Steven Parke said Mrs Sanderson had been admitted to Calderdale Royal Hospital on January 3 suffering from dehydration and staff had been told that she was suffering from a degree of confusion after falling during the night.

He said there was some initial improvement in her condition but she became unwell again.

Mr Whittaker recorded a verdict of accidental death.