Woman, 86, died in Blackpool Victoria Hospital after suffering fall at home

An 86-year-old woman from St Annes died n Blackpool Victoria Hospital four days after suffering a fall at home.

Joyce Rimmer was found in a corridor at the supported accommodation block in which she lived in Kilnhouse Lane and taken to hospital by ambulance, where she underwent an operation the following day on a fractured hip, an inquest at Blackpool heard.

Three days later, as she recovered at the hospital, and having been up and about initially following the procedure, her condition deteriorated and she started vomiting. She died later that day.

A post mortem carried out by consultant pathologist Dr Darek Golka found that Joyce’s cause of death was respiratory failure due to bronchial pneumonia, of which he found evidence in both lungs.

Contributing factors. he found, were a fractured femur, which had made her more vulnerable, and anaemia.

Dr Golka told the inquest that it was most likely the pneumonia had developed in while she was immobile after the fall.

But in his conclusion to the inquest, Blackpool and Fylde chief coroner Alan Wilson decided to elevate the fall to the main cause of death, as that started the chain of events which led to Joyce’s death.

The pneumonia, he said, had been a direct consequence and could often develop in elderly people who were immobile.

He said the surgery was necessary and delivered in a timely manner and he found no failure in care by the hospital.

Mr Wilson returned a conclusion of accidental death.

Joyce had learning difficulties and the supported housing in which she had lived was run by the One Fylde agency, of which she had been part for more than 50 years.

One Fylde team leader Debbie Warburton said she was a very popular and active lady, who had gone to church weekly, despite walking with a trolley frame.

Ms Warburton said no-one had seen Joyce fall as she had apparently made her way from her room to elsewhere in the block and she had been surprised at how quickly Joyce’s condition had deteriorated after initially being up and about following the operation.