Gran's death after hoist tumble

An amputee died from complications after falling from a hoist-sling at a Wolverhampton care home, an inquest heard.

Eileen Lawley suffered a broken thigh in the fall, but hospital doctors failed to spot that she had shattered her hip.

The 76-year-old grandmother, who had had both legs amputated below the knee, died in June 2007. Her death was due to a bowel obstruction, due in part to immobility as a result of the fall, a pathologist found.

The thigh was put in a cast, but she suffered a pressure wound, leading to gangrene, which also contrib- uted to her death, the city inquest was told.

Daughter Karen O'Neill, a staff nurse, said although her mother could not walk, she led an active life with the help of her family.

Mrs Lawley, who lived with her son Stephen and his wife Sonia in Hillcrest Avenue, Bushbury, fell while receiving respite care at Woden Resource Centre, Wednesfield, in February 2007.

The inquest heard that several times Mrs O'Neill, aged 46, saw carers hoisting her mother incorrectly and on one occasion she complained.

Dolores Lambert, a carer, admitted she had not been trained to use that type of sling and did not read the instructions.

Mrs Lawley was taken to New Cross Hospital, where A&E staff X-rayed only her leg.

Mrs O'Neill said: "I asked about a hip fracture, but was told 'No, just her lower femur'. I was gobsmacked." The hearing continues.