Grandmother Dies After Hospital Fall and Infection Following Family Persuasion
An 85-year-old grandmother who was persuaded by her family to go to hospital for a foot problem never returned home after dying from a hospital-acquired infection, a coroner's court has heard.
Independent Mary Breen, from Erdington in Birmingham, died on November 2 last year from pneumonia caused by Covid-19 and a fractured femur sustained in a fall at Good Hope Hospital's emergency department. The inquest at Birmingham Coroner's Court was told her family had encouraged her to seek medical help after three weeks of issues with a swollen foot, thought to be cellulitis.
Family's Devastation Over Hospital Treatment
Mrs Breen's son, Mark, told the court: "We are devastated because my mum didn't want to go into hospital. We talked her into going because we thought she would get the treatment she deserved."
He described his mother as a fully capable woman who lived independently in a flat with her dog, did her own shopping, and was an avid Birmingham City football fan. "Our mum lived independently and was fully capable in life. She cared for herself, her flat and her dog," he said.
The family said they would be pursuing an official complaint with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust over her treatment.
Hospital Fall and Delayed Diagnosis
The court heard Mrs Breen fell after being awoken for a 6am transfer from Good Hope's emergency department to a ward, where she could be monitored ahead of being discharged. Scans conducted after her fall did not include her femur in what was described as an "individual error."
Her pain went from zero to ten out of ten after the fall, and staff increased her pain medication. An X-ray which revealed Mrs Breen's fracture was only carried out after her daughter expressed concern over her swollen knee and called for a leg scan.
After the discovery, the pensioner was moved to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where she underwent successful surgery on her fracture. However, she then tested positive for Covid-19 and her condition deteriorated into sepsis.
Coroner's Findings on Hospital Care
Assistant coroner Ian Dreelan said there had been a "lack of professional curiosity" at the hospital as her pain escalated dramatically after the fall. He noted there had been an "avoidable delay" in identifying Mrs Breen's fracture, but said evidence indicated this did not contribute to her death.
Mr Dreelan told the court: "There was a delay in the raising of Mary from the floor, which may, to an observer look like she is being left on the floor in pain, but they have to get a registrar to check she is safe to move."
He added: "She was to be discharged to another ward - we often see at coroner's court when they are about to be discharged, that is when things unfortunately go wrong."
Hospital's Risk Assessment and Family Disputes
The court heard Mrs Breen had been assessed as having a "slight risk" of falling at Good Hope Hospital and was placed in a visible bed space, given anti-slip socks and a call bell. Senior Sister Stacey Allen told the hearing staff were aware she was mobile and self-caring.
Hospital staff said Mrs Breen fell from a wheelchair while reaching for a personal item - a claim the family disputed. Relatives also complained about a delay in helping her from the floor after her fall.
Mrs Breen had a complex medical background including a history of chronic kidney disease, hypertension and subarachnoid haemorrhage. Her death was recorded as from natural causes, contributed to by injuries sustained in a fall.
The coroner concluded that while there were issues with her care, the evidence showed the delay in diagnosing her fracture did not cause her death. The family continues to seek answers about her treatment at the Birmingham hospital.
