Peacehaven man died following fall in care home

David Paine died at the Conquest Hospital on October 4 last year following a fall at a residential home, an inquest heard.

The inquest at Eastbourne Town Hall on Thursday (May 13), heard Mr Paine, a retired tool maker, previously lived in Victoria Avenue before moving into the Bannow Retirement Home in St Leonards.

Angela White, the manager of the home, said on September 20 last year Mr Paine fell in his room at the home.

Ms White said due to Mr Paine appearing to be ‘fully responsive, aware, and just a bit sore’ to staff, an ambulance wasn’t called and instead hourly observations were carried out for the next 24 hours by staff at the home.

Donna Lear, a healthcare assistant, said, “He was awake and chatting the next day.”

However, later on September 21 Mr Paine deteriorated, an ambulance was called, and he was taken into hospital that evening, the inquest heard.

Dr Hugh McIntyre was the consultant physician at the Conquest Hospital that evening. He said a CT scan was carried out once Mr Paine had arrived.

The scan revealed Mr Paine had a haematoma on the brain – a blood clot – as a result of the fall the previous day where he had hit his head.

Dr McIntyre said Mr Paine improved at first and hospital staff felt optimistic. However, he said it’s ‘not uncommon’ for a patient to feel fine after a haematoma forms from banging their head, and deterioration can occur 24-72 hours later.

According to Dr McIntyre, on the evening of September 30 Mr Paine became drowsy and another CT scan revealed there was a fresh bleed on the haematoma.

The inquest heard that Mr Paine deteriorated from September 30, before passing away on October 4.

East Sussex coroner Alan Craze said, “Even if things had been done differently, it would have had the same outcome.”

On reflection of the death of Mr Paine, Ms White said staff – who aren’t medically trained – are now given more training so they’re more aware of what to do in similar situations.

Mr Craze ruled Mr Paine died due to a traumatic haematoma.