A BLAENAU Gwent pensioner died after suffering a fall in Nevill Hall Hospital just hours before she was due to be discharged, an inquest has heard.

Barbara Fouracre, 75, from Brynmawr, was admitted to ward 44 of the Abergavenny hospital after complaining of lethargy and shortness of breath on Boxing Day last year.

Newport Coroner’s Court heard that the heavy smoker had been admitted to the hospital five times that year and suffered with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Giving documentary evidence at her inquest, Joanne Evans, the ward manager, said the retired chiropodist was a “friendly and co-operative lady”.

She noted that Mrs Fouracre, who used a Zimmer frame and walking stick, was at risk of a fall so she was wheeled to the toilet by a nurse or used the commode beside her bed by pressing the call bell.

After going to bed at 10pm on January 5, on the eve of her discharge date, she was checked on by nurses at 12.05am and was found to be comfortable and sleeping.

However, just an hour-and-a-half later, she was discovered on the floor with a cut to her head, with none of the on duty nurses having seen her fall.

The cut was treated at 3.30am and she was later given paracetamol after being checked over by the on call doctor.

Although Mrs Fouracre told nurses she did not know how it happened, there was no major cause for concern.

However, Mrs Evans said the pensioner’s observation ratings later shot up from a normal one rating during the day to a seven rating at around 11.40pm.

“The on call doctor saw her at 12.05am and she found Mrs Fouracre to be hypoxic and unresponsive,” she said. “Her pupils were noted to be fixed and dilated.”

Her condition rapidly deteriorated and at 5.10am, she died.

Mrs Fouracre’s son, Andrew Fouracre, also gave evidence at his mother’s inquest. He was asked by the senior coroner for Gwent, David Bowen, about his mother’s breathing difficulties and if she was “reasonably mobile”.

He replied: “She had a hip operation but she had got around with her Zimmer and sticks. I don’t think she had fallen seriously before.”

Dr Geraint Evans, a consultant pathologist at Nevil Hall Hospital, carried out the post-mortem examination on January 13.

He concluded that the cause of death was a subdural haemorrhage and there was no evidence of a skull fracture.

Summing up, Mr Bowen said Mrs Fourace “was never able to give a proper explanation to how it occurred”.

“Though her fall was not witnessed and she was not able to give an explanation for it, I’m satisfied that rather than worrying ward staff, she possibly tried to get out of bed to use the toilet or the commode,” he said.

“Consequently, I’m sure that the fall was completely unexpected on her part.”

Mr Bowen recorded a verdict of accidental death