Nurse's disbelief over stroke victim's sex assault

Valerie Kneale died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital days after suffering a stroke at home

A former nurse has spoken of his disbelief when he learned that a stroke ward patient had died from injuries sustained during a sexual assault at the hospital.

Matthew Pover was speaking at the inquest of Valerie Kneale, 75, who died on 16 November 2018 at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

It was initially thought she had died from the stroke she had suffered four days earlier at her home in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire.

But two post-mortem examinations concluded Mrs Kneale had died from a haemorrhage after the assault which was judged to have occurred after her hospital admission.

Valerie Kneale was being treated at Blackpool Victoria Hospital

Despite a six-year police investigation, no-one has ever been charged with her attack.

At the time of Mrs Kneale's death, Mr Pover was a senior nurse working in the stroke unit and part of the team who looked after her.

He told the inquest at Blackpool and Fylde Coroner's Court that when she first arrived on 12 November she had been alert and able to communicate.

Mrs Kneale was asked about a statement given to police in 2019 when he said he could not see when the injuries to Mrs Kneale could have been sustained.

"I think this was just an expression of disbelief," he said.

Mr Pover was also asked about an exchange with a health care assistant who had been asked to clean Mrs Kneale's body shortly after her death.

He said she had told him there was a large amount of blood on the bed which was "too much for someone to deal with", and had asked for assistance.

Another health care assistant then went to help her, the court heard.

Gareth Thompson, representing Mrs Kneale's family, asked Mr Pover why he had not raised the matter with anyone else, saying: "The nurse brought concerns to you. Why didn't you do your job and react to those concerns?"

Mr Pover said he honestly did not know.

He told the inquest that he thought he had underestimated the seriousness of the situation.

"I don't think I computed it as blood," he said.

Mr Pover also said the health care assistant had not appeared "overly upset" about the situation and so he did not appreciate the urgency.

'Murder investigation'

On Monday, the inquest heard that Mrs Kneale's first post-mortem examination was not carried out until 18 days after her death.

It was part of an entirely separate police investigation into the hospital's stroke unit.

It was at this point that the evidence of the earlier attack was discovered and the police began a murder investigation.

Former Det Ch Insp Jill Riley, who led that investigation, told the inquest earlier that the delay had meant officers were unable to get forensic evidence from Mrs Kneale's clothes, bedding and room.

It also meant that CCTV footage had already been recorded over.

The inquest is due to resume on Wednesday.