OAP who discharged herself from hospital after fall later died
A FIERCELY independent pensioner insisted on discharging herself from hospital after a fall but was later found unresponsive at her home and died the day after her birthday.
Kathleen Anne Speak, who was born in Rawtenstall, managed to call 999 after falling from her chair at around 6.30pm on the evening of January 9 of this year.
The 71-year-old, who worked at Woolworths in Rawtenstall before retiring, had tried to call relatives but couldn’t find her mobile phone and decided to ring paramedics at 10.25pm.
When paramedics arrived they were unable to gain access to Kathleen’s home.
Firefighters attended and forced entry through a window before Kathleen, who was conscious, was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.
Emergency medicine consultant Dr Neil Prater said that Kathleen, who was known to suffer from cerebellar ataxia which can cause dizziness and fainting, had no signs of injury to her head or spine.
Despite the occupational therapy team deeming that she was at risk of further falls Kathleen insisted on discharging herself.
Kathleen’s cousin David Rawes, who lives down south, said that he was called by her neighbour Julie two days later on
January 11 to say she had been found semiconscious.
Assistant Coroner Kate Bisset read extracts from his statement and said: “He rang the hospital and was told she discharged herself the previous day.
“She had a bleed on the brain and he was told she would be moved to a ward.
“On Saturday they moved her to a ward and he made arrangements to come up to see her.
“At 6.15pm he was called asking him to get to the hospital quickly as she had suffered a collapse.
“He was then told, just as he was about to leave, that Kathleen had passed away.”
The medical cause of Kathleen’s death was recorded as acute subdural haematoma with cerebellar ataxia as a contributory factor.
The coroner concluded she had died as a result of an accident.