Kore Elizabeth Padgett was admitted to hospital after an accidental fall down the stairs, sustaining an unstable neck fracture requiring immobilisation in a hard collar. The collar affected her swallowing, contributed to pressure sores, and limited chest physiotherapy; she later developed recurrent aspiration pneumonia and died on 23 October 2024. The concerns included inadequate staff training in fitting the collar, insufficient communication and multidisciplinary consideration of treatment options, and a lack of opportunity for Kore to make an informed decision about the risks and benefits of continued collar use.
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust