Fatal injury was caused by falls, coroner decides

A retired office manager who had Alzheimer’s died of a head injury after falling several times, an inquest heard.
Eastbourne Hastings Bexhill Rye Battle Herald ObserverEastbourne Hastings Bexhill Rye Battle Herald Observer
Eastbourne Hastings Bexhill Rye Battle Herald Observer

Janette Burbidge, 80 of The Hooks, Henfield, died at Worthing Hospital on March 17 this year. Last Thursday, an inquest heard that Mrs Burbidge moved into Red Oaks Nursing Home in January this year, following a hip operation.

The inquest heard that she would try to walk unaided, which put her at riskof falling.

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In February Mrs Burbidge fell three times, the most serious being on February 25.

Nursing home staff found her lying on the floor with a deep wound to her head. Although Mrs Burbidge was well enough to return to the nursing home next day, hospital staff had noticed that she had tried to get up several times during the night.

Back at the nursing home, she suffered two more serious falls on March 10 and 11, and was admitted to Worthing Hospital on March 12.

She died there five days later. A post mortem revealed that she had suffered a subdural heamorrhage - a buildup of blood caused by bleeding in the brain.

Coroner’s officer Helen Lawrence said an investigation found no concerns about the care she had been receiving at the home.

A finding of accidental death was recorded.

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