A care home in Shrewsbury could be sued by the family of a 79-year-old resident who died following a fall while on a walk to the shops to fetch bread.

Joan Bloore had only moved in to Hartlands Residential Home in Whitehall Street a couple of months before the incident in March this year. An inquest in Wem yesterday heard the pensioner was taken on a walk using a mobility frame by carer Naomi Morris – despite her notes saying she should only be taken out in a wheelchair.

She fell and banged her head, dying four days later in Royal Shrewsbury Hospital from a brain haemorrhage and pneumonia

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner John Ellery said: “The deceased died from injuries following a fall while walking with a Rollator walking aid and not in a wheelchair as required by her care plan.”

Mrs Bloore’s son Ian said he believed a breakdown in communication between staff had led to his mother’s death and the family were now considering taking civil action against the home.

“We haven’t decided yet but this is not about financial stuff, just about finding out how mum died,” he said.

Mr Bloore, one of five siblings, said his family believed there had been ‘massive deficiencies’ at the home with informing staff about the requirements of residents.

“We have all said the same thing – it should never have happened,” he said.

“She was put in a position that resulted in her death and could have happened to any resident. Hopefully, nobody else will have to go through what we have.”

He said the family had made a difficult decision to move their mother from the home in which she had lived from for more than 50 years to the care home, but had believed it would make her safer.

At the inquest, Ann Sargeant, manager of the home, said procedures had now been changed and were ‘watertight’.

No one from the Hartlands was available for comment today.

See also:

• Shrewsbury shop trip fall ‘led to death’ of pensioner