Stoke-on-Trent widow died after fall at home, inquest told

By Mitch Sayers: An elderly Stoke-on-Trent woman died after breaking her leg in a fall at home, an inquest heard.

Elizabeth May Whieldon, 92, of Hall Drive, Weston Coyney, died at the City General Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent.

Widow Mrs Whieldon fell at her home where she lived with son Sidney in December 2010, breaking her pelvis and leg in four places.

She amazed doctors by pulling through complex surgery to mend the four-part fracture, and was later transferred to Longton Cottage Hospital for recovery.

But the inquest was told how she had picked up an infection at some point while in hospital and her condition deteriorated.

She was returned to the City General hospital but never recovered and died on January 19 last year.

Pathologist Dr Besim Latifaj confirmed her body showed there had been evidence of heart trauma and a chest infection.

Consultant Mr Phillip Roberts said sepsis was the cause of death, brought on by a bronchial pneumonia infection.

Despite presence of the MRSA bug on parts of her body, this was ruled out as a cause or contributory factor.

North Staffordshire Coroner Ian Smith said: “She was an elderly woman walking on a tight rope, coping with life.

“When you slip off that tightrope, getting back on again can be the devil’s own game. Sadly, she slipped off, it was no one’s fault.”

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Tags: city general hopsital, coroner, infection, inquest, stoke

Category: News