Inquests held on Black Country pensioners' deaths with coronavirus links
Seven elderly people died after being admitted to hospital following a fall then testing positive for coronavirus, a coroner said.
Black Country coroner Mr Zafar Siddique held inquests into the deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
Frank Middleton, of Victoria Road, in Oldbury, died at Sandwell General Hospital on April 8.
Mr Siddique said the 92-year-old retired motor mechanic was admitted to hospital after falling over at his home while going to the bins in his garden on Friday, March 27.
Mr Siddique said: "Mr Middleton was admitted to hospital on March 27 due to a fall. It appears he was taking out the rubbish to his bins in the back garden when he fell.
"He had been suffering from a cough for a number of days. In hospital, x-rays showed a hip fracture.
"Mr Middleton underwent surgery to repair the fracture on March 31, his condition deteriorated and he was given antibiotics for a chest infection. Multiple attempts were made to pass a tube to feed and hydrate him. Blood samples showed acute kidney disease.
"Covid-19 swabs were taken and later confirmed as positive. His oxygen levels dropped quickly. Mr Middleton passed away on the evening of April 8."
Mr Siddique said his cause of death had been listed as Covid-19 pneumonia, as well as a femur fracture, heart failure and kidney disease.
He concluded that Mr Middleton's death was accidental.
Melanie Kemp, who lived at Halas Homes, in Wassell Road, Halesowen, suffered a fall on the stairs and it was highly suggested she had Covid-19, an inquest heard.
The 52-year-old, who was born in Wolverhampton, died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham on Monday, April 6.
She had suffered a significant bleed on the brain during the fall, the inquest heard.
Unconscious
Mr Siddique said: "She was admitted to hospital after having a fall half way up the stairs. Paramedics attended and found her unconscious, her temperature was higher at 39 degrees and she was struggling to breathe.
"A CT scan showed a brain injury and a significant bleed on the brain due to the fall. They realised her injury was un-survivable. She passed away on April 6.
"The care home said she was not showing any signs of infection or Covid-19. They said she had a normal day, and the only unusual thing was that she had soiled herself and had come home due to that. She had gone to her room on the first floor to change when carers heard a big bang.
"Ms Kemp did not have mobility issues. Relatives said she had been at the care home for two years, enjoyed being there and she did suffer some issues with balance and her chest.
"It was highly suggestive that she had developed Covid-19.
"Her cause of death was listed as haemorrhage due to a fall. Contributory factors were Covid-19 and diabetes."
Mr Siddique concluded she died due to the significant head injury and bleed on the brain – and concluded that Ms Kemp's death was accidental.
After both hearings, Mr Siddique offered his condolences to the families of both Ms Kemp and Mr Middleton.
On Tuesday, the Black Country Coroner's Court held the inquest on Valerie Francis Rice, from Great Barr, who died at Sandwell General Hospital on April 5.
Mr Siddique said the 80-year-old was admitted to Sandwell Hospital after falling over at home on March 7.
He said: "She was having oxygen and tested positive for Covid-19.
"Despite antibiotics and oxygen therapy she died on April 5.
"The cause of death was 1a Covid-19 pneumonia, and a rib fracture due to fall."
Mr Siddique concluded Mrs Rice's death was accidental.
Dorothy Massey, from Rose Close in Lower Gornal, died in Russells Hall Hospital on April 6 after testing positive for coronavirus, the inquest heard.
Mr Siddique said the 86-year-old had a fall on February 25 while walking to the bathroom and fractured her hip.
"She had a surgery to repair the fracture," he said. "Swabs were taken to test for Covid-19 and she developed a cough, she had picked up the viral infection.
"The cause of death is Covid positive pneumonia and right neck of femur fracture and bullous pemphigoid."
Mr Siddique concluded the death was accidental with complications of Covid-19.
Mary Margaret Smith, from Dudley, died at Russells Hall Hospital on April 6 after testing positive for coronavirus, according to Mr Siddique.
The 84-year-old was admitted to hospital on March 27 after a fall.
Mr Siddique said: "An X-ray was performed and she had a hip fracture. She had a previous history of falls, COPD and dementia.
"On February 28 her fracture was repaired.
"She had been in contact with another patient that developed Covid-19.
"The first swab was tested negative, she developed pneumonia.
Precipitated
"On March 26 it was established she had Covid-19 pneumonia.
"The cause of death was Covid-19 positive pneumonia and neck of femur fracture."
Mr Siddique concluded Miss Smith's death was accidental.
He added: "If it wasn't for the fall and the fracture she wouldn't have gone into hospital and picked up the viral infection and passed away."
Zona Ashmore lived in Wordsley Hall Care Home, where she also died on April 7 after testing positive for coronavirus, the inquest heard.
The 91-year-old had dementia and had a crash alarm mat next to her bed which was activated on March 11, Mr Siddique said.
He added: "Staff found her on the floor. She was taken to hospital where she underwent a partial hip replacement.
"She was tested for Covid-19 and tested positive.
"She was sent back to the care home where she was in isolation and continued to decline and passed away on April 7.
"The cause of death was Covid-19 and fractured femur and dementia.
"She developed Covid-19 back at the care home but it was all precipitated by the fracture."
Temperature
Mr Siddique concluded her death was accidental.
And Michael Ronald Dunn, from Willow Road in Finchfield, Wolverhampton, died on April 9 at New Cross Hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.
The 77-year-old was admitted to hospital after an unwitnessed fall on February 22.
A CT scan showed he had a haemopneumothorax, Mr Siddique said.
He added: "He was initially making good progress but acquired pneumonia.
"A chest X-ray was done and established he had right sided haemopneumothorax. His temperature started to spike and he tested positive for Covid-19.
"Despite treatment he passed away on April 9.
"The cause of death was 1a empyema, 1b traumatic haemopneumothorax, and dementia, type 2 diabetes, and Covid-19.
"Covid-19 should also be recorded as he tested positive."
Mr Siddique concluded Mr Dunn's death was accidental, and he developed subsequent complications.
