Mum died after tripping on 'hazard' outside hospital

Lorna Luxton's family say she died after tripping on a hazard outside the Bristol Royal Infirmary

A mother-of-two died weeks after tripping on a "hazard" outside a hospital, her family says.

Lorna Loxton, 55, had been attending a cardiology appointment at Bristol Royal Infirmary when she fell over a protruding metal flap outside the hospital, breaking her hip and hitting her head on the ground.

She underwent surgery on her hip but her condition deteriorated and she died in hospital three weeks later on 28 January.

A spokesperson from University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) said they offer their "heartfelt condolences to Lorna's family".

It is believed that Ms Loxton's three-wheel walking frame became lodged in a metal flap which covered a bollard.

Her cause of death is yet to be formally established and an inquest will take place on a date yet to be fixed.

Ms Loxton, a former auxiliary nurse, lived with myotonic dystrophy, a genetic disorder which causes muscle weakness.

Her daughter Danni, 30, and son Mark, 35, described their mother as an animal lover, who enjoyed riding and caring for horses, as well as looking after her three dogs.

Danni, an entertainment manager, said: "She couldn't work for a lot of years because of her illness, some days she couldn't even get out of bed, but she did the very best she could.

"I would speak to her all the time and she lived her life as best she could. The way we lost her has been absolutely traumatic."

A report ruled there was a "trip hazard" outside of the BRI

Ms Loxton's family are being supported by law firm Slater and Gordon ahead of her inquest.

Samantha Griffiths, senior associate at the law firm, said: "Hospitals should be one of the safest possible environments for people with mobility problems who use mobility aids, but this has been far from the case in Lorna's situation."

The law firm said a report from UHBW found the bollard posts were not being monitored by the estates and facilities team when Ms Loxton died.

It described the angle of the metal flat as a "trip hazard", Slater and Gordon said.

A spokesperson for UHBW said: "We are committed to working with the coroner and are unable to comment further while the inquest process is under way."