Gran, 82, died after broken back blunder at Stafford Hospital

Former schoolteacher Audrey Wakefield was taken to hospital after falling backwards off a chair and banging her head at Manor House Nursing Home in Stone on February 20 last year.

The extent of the 82-year-old's injuries, which included a bang to the head that caused a bleed on the brain and also a broken back, were not identified by medics and she was released from hospital and returned to Manor House.

But staff there noticed a change in her behaviour and she was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke on February 24.

At an inquest yesterday at Cannock Coroner's Court, South Staffordshire Coroner Andrew Haigh heard doctors at Stafford Hospital could not explain why the broken back was not spotted.

Dr Indira Natarajan, a consultant physician at UHNS told the inquest: "On February 24, she was admitted with confusion and spent time on another ward before being referred to the stroke ward. A scan showed that she had damage to the spine and a bleed into her brain. She also had thrombosis in her bladder.

"I cannot say why another unit did not carry out the scan, it is hard to say, I think I would have carried out the scan, but I cannot know the circumstances.

"After some time it was decided that our care was doing more harm than good and she was very distressed. After consulting with the family we moved her to palliative care."

The inquest heard that Mrs Wakefield had suffered a stroke in January and was cared for at the University of North Staffordshire Hospital in Stoke before being sent home.

The case was to be referred to the community stroke team for the area but it appeared the case was not picked up. Mrs Wakefield was referred to Manor House in mid-January and she suffered a fall the following month.

Mrs Wakefield's daughter Anne Dicks told the inquest the stroke team had never visited her mother.

She said: "The home had no central heating, she was sent to the care home because she was an ice block. I want to put myself through this process because I want to make sure these issues are known and that recommendations can be made. I was the next of kin and no one asked me before she was discharged the first time."

Lesley Powell, who is manager of Manor House, said: "She was a lovely lady, well-liked by the staff. But her behaviour now became very disruptive, she started throwing things and refused to get into her bed."

Dr Terence Hollingworth, a pathologist who carried out 82-year-old Mrs Wakefield's post mortem said she died of bronchial pneumonia and a closed head injury. He said: "The broken back was significant in that it showed that she had fallen backwards and that was how the head injury came about."

The grandmother-of-two, who lived in St Michael's Mount, Stone, died on April 11 last year.

The inquest was adjourned.