Inquest into death of resident at Fairfield House care home, Lyme Regis

An inquest heard how Frances Mary Brighton died on January 6 this year of subdural haematoma, also known as bleed on the brain, after she was found 12 days earlier lying on the kitchen floor with a head injury at Fairfield House care home in Lyme Regis.

Frances, who suffered with Alzheimer's Disease and required the use of a walking frame, was found by night staff lying on the care home's kitchen floor with a gash to her head at around 6.35am on Boxing Day last year - before an ambulance was called for paramedics to assess whether she needed to go to hospital, Bournemouth Coroner's Court heard.

The inquest heard how after her head wound was cleaned, ambulance staff decided against taking Frances to hospital.

Zoe Clark, who was the senior night care assistant, gave evidence during the inquest.

Fairfield House

She said: "At 6.20am Frances came into the dining room so I thought the safest place to leave her, while we tended to other residents, was the settee in dining room.

"Myself and my colleague tended to the other residents and we found her at 6.35am lying on the kitchen floor with bleeding on her head from a gash.

"We called 999 straight away and the ambulance staff did not take her to hospital because her head wound was not as bad as it looked once cleaned.

"I did lock the kitchen door, but it's a stable door which opens halfway. There's a lock on the bottom of the door and it could be easily opened to gain access to the kitchen."

The following day Frances, who also had bruising to the face, was admitted to Dorset County Hospital (DCH) after staff noticed her health deteriorated rapidly. There, an x-ray was performed which revealed the subdural haematoma.

Dr Katherine Lewis, of DCH said: "A scan revealed traumatic brain bleed.

"The scan was sent to the neurology centre at University Hospital Southampton. We were told by that neurology team, due to her frailty and age, it would be too risky to perform surgery."

Frances was discharged from DCH on December 30 last year and the care home prepared end-of-life care before she died on January 6.

Richard Middleton, assistant coroner for Dorset, concluded that Frances died accidentally.

He said: "The stable door had been locked, but she had gained access to kitchen with a zimmer frame.

"That day she was fit to remain in the care home, caveat to regular checks, but on December 27 there was a deterioration of health.

"I am satisfied Frances died of misadventure due to falling on the floor and dying of acute haematoma – and therefore an accident."