Janette Margaret PALMER · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 5th March 2025 I commenced an investigation into the tragic death of-

Janette Margaret PALMER

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 10th March 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was that Janette Palmer died as the result of:-

Accidental death, contributed to by frailty of old age and underlying poor health.

The medical cause of death was confirmed as:

1a Bronchopneumonia
2 Frailty of Old Age and Left Hip Fracture.

Janette Palmer’s death was verified at 15:15 on the 24th February 2025, at the St Nicholas Hospice, Bury St Edmunds, in Suffolk.

Janette had been admitted to the St Nicholas Hospice on 21st February 2025 from the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds.

Janette was admitted to the West Suffolk Hospital on 15th February 2025 following an unwitnessed fall she had suffered at her home address in which she suffered a fracture to her left hip.

Upon admission it was identified that Janette had also had a heart attack (myocardial infarction), although whether or not this occurred before or after her fall could not be established.

Janette also suffered from a number of significant co-morbidities, and a surgical procedure to repair her hip could not be attempted.

Janette went onto develop a serious chest infection (bronchopneumonia) and her condition continued to deteriorate until her sad death.

At the time of her fall on the 14th February 2025, an electrical power cut at her independent living housing for elderly individuals (Chestnut Court run by Havebury Homes Partnership) had occurred, meaning that none of the lights were on in Janette’s flat when she was found.

Whether or not the lights were out at the time of Janette’s fall, and whether or not the lights being out contributed to her fall, could not be established on the available evidence.

In evidence it was heard from UK Power Networks (Operations) Ltd that a power outage in the area of Janette’s supported living accommodation had occurred on the 14th February 2025.

The UK Power Networks (Operations) Ltd confirmed that Chestnut Court was not on their Priority Services Register and therefore did not qualify for additional support during the electrical outage.

The additional support offered to properties on the Priority Services Register includes regular call backs with updates, SMS messaging updates, torches, battery back-up packs, the supply of hot food and drink, and if needed hotel accommodation.

In their evidence Havebury Housing Partnership (the Housing Association which runs Chestnut Court) stated that it had no knowledge that a Priority Services Register existed, or knowledge of the enhanced response available if their properties were on that register.

Given the circumstances of Janette’s case, it is not suggested that had Chestnut Court been on the Priority Service Register her tragic death would not have occurred.

However, I am concerned that the lack of knowledge that the UK Power Networks Priority Services Register actually exists, may just not relate to the Havebury Housing Partnership but also to the many other providers of care home and sheltered housing facilities.

I am concerned that in different circumstances, such as an extreme weather event, residents of other care homes and sheltered housing will not benefit from the enhanced response available and deaths may occur, due to a lack of knowledge of the UK Power Networks Priority Services Register by the individuals or businesses running those facilities.