Investigation and inquest
On 30th May 2013 I commenced an investigation into the death of Charles Cecil Lawrence, aged 89. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 7th July 2014. The conclusion of the inquest was Mr Lawrence died due to an Accident. The medical cause of death was:
a: Spinal Cord Compression
1b: Fractured Thoracic Vertebrae
2: Congestive Cardiac Failure and Pneumonia
Circumstances of the death
On 2nd April 2013 Charles Cecil Lawrence fell in the residential home where he lived. He was visited by his GP who noted no apparent injury to Mr Lawrence. Mr Lawrence fell again later that day but his GP was not recalled. By 11th April 2013 Mr Lawrence was in increasing distress and his condition deteriorated and his GP admitted him to Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, where he was diagnosed as having sustained an untreatable spinal injury. He died at Queen Alexandra Hospital on 23rd May 2013 at 06.40 hours.
Coroner’s concerns
Alexandra Rose Care Home does not have a protocol of calling out a doctor to examine a resident who suffers more than one fall in a 24 hour period.