Woman died after fall from sunbed

Lorraine Matthews, who lived at Caldwell Street, West Bromwich, died aged 60 in August this year after she fell over in her garden when trying to get up out of her sunbed.

An inquest into her death at the Black Country Coroners Court in Oldbury heard that she suffered with alcoholism for 30 years and was prone to falls.

She was taken to hospital 15 times in August prior to her death on August 20.

Doctors revealed that she had no signs of physical damage to her brain or skull following the fall on August 17, but believe that she may have suffered a bleed to the brain the following day.

Despite being advised to return to hospital if she started to experience headaches or vomiting, both of which happened the day after she was discharged, she told her daughter the day before her death that she was 'too weak' to go back.

Speaking at the inquest, daughter Rachel Matthews said: "My mother was an alcoholic and she had many falls due to that which led to her being admitted to hospital on numerous occasions.

"She had suffered with drink problems for 30 years but over the last three years that had escalated.

"In the month of August she had 15 falls and was admitted to Sandwell Hospital on August 17 after one in her garden.

"She was released from hospital and I saw her on August 18, she told me that she was feeling unwell, had been vomiting and generally felt weak.

"She said that she was too weak to go back to the hospital, but she complained that her head hurt.

"There were no visible scars or damage to her head and I stayed with her as late as I could that night, the next day I went back and she was slouched in her armchair.

"I called for an ambulance but when it arrived they told me that there was nothing they could do."

After being taken to hospital following the fall in her garden, with a neighbour calling for assistance from paramedics, tests were carried out on Ms Matthews that led doctors to believe that she was not in any serious danger.

Jeremy Smith, an A&E consultant at Sandwell Hospital, said she was also seen twice by a stroke nurse, who confirmed she hadn't suffered a stroke.

Speaking at the inquest, he said: "There was no sign of a bleed on the brain when she was assessed and there was no superficial damage to her skull.

"She was released in good faith and given an information leaflet that recommended if she experienced sickness or drowsiness over the coming days, she should return."

Coroner Zafar Siqqique gave a verdict of accidental death following a bleed on the brain and said: "She had a history of falls and was also battling alcohol dependency and unfortunately on this occasion she didn't return to the hospital when she felt ill after being released.

"My heartfelt condolences go out to the family, who have lost someone at too young an age."