Inquest into care home push death opens

Margaret Medlicott, 77, died on 3 May 2020

An inquest into the death of a care home resident, who died as a result of being pushed by another resident, will explore whether processes for discharging patients from hospital amid pressures of the Covid pandemic had an impact.

Margaret Medlicott, 77, died on 3 May 2020 in hospital, 10 days after suffering a head injury at Haresbrook Park Care Home in Tenbury Wells.

The inquest at Worcestershire Coroner's Court heard Ms Medlicott had advanced dementia and had previously been discharged from Ross-on-Wye Community Hospital.

The other resident, known as Mr X, also had dementia, the court heard.

West Mercia Police said an investigation took place but there were no criminal charges and the case was closed.

Evidence was heard on Monday from nursing staff at Ross-on-Wye Community Hospital, who said guidance about the process of discharging patients changed during Covid.

It aimed at getting hospital beds free as quickly as possible and went to a "discharge-to-assess" framework, which saw a less detailed assessment done in hospital, and waited for patients to be in the community to assess their needs further.

Senior coroner David Reid heard how Ms Medlicott's daughter, Karen Rosser, expressed concerns that she was not involved in assessments done while her mother was a patient at the hospital.

A statement read out by Ms Rosser's representative described Ms Medlicott as having a "wicked sense of humour" and someone who would "fix everyone's problems".

"As her dementia worsened she became afraid, which was alien to who she was," the court heard.

The inquest is expected to last 10 days and Mr Reid said it aimed to explore the background of both residents and the care they received before and during their time in the care home.