Woman died in hospital after fall

An elderly woman from Spalding died days after suffering a fall while being treated for lung cancer and heart disease at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital, an inquest has heard.

Patricia Hodson, 83, died on May 9, 2019 four days after an operation on the fractured hip suffered as a result of the May 2 fall.

She’d been admitted to the hospital on April 21 following a worsening in her condition due to the lung cancer and heart disease, an inquest into her death at Lincoln Coroner’s Court heard.

Coroner Paul Smith referenced a serious incident report made by United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust who run Pilgrim Hospital.

He said: “While the surgery itself appears to have been successful from a clinical perspective Mrs Hodson’s condition declined thereafter until she passed on May 9.

“I have considered the findings of the serious incident report prepared by the hospital trust.

“It’s an extensive document that acknowledges that while some things could have been done better, not least a more accurate assessment of Mrs Hodson’s risk of falling.

“But overall I take the view it’s impossible under all the circumstances to say that the fall was wholly preventable.

“Certainly Mrs Hodson was not considered to be in the high risk of falls.”

Delivering a narrative conclusion Mr Smith said: “Mrs Hodson died as a consequence of natural disease to which injuries received in an accidental fall made a contribution.”