The widow of a man who died after a fall in hospital has told health bosses she wants to see changes implemented rather than make a formal complaint.
John Hatfield, 79, died at Barrow-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Cumbria after undergoing surgery on a hip that was damaged in an unwitnessed fall.
At a meeting of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust (UHMBT) board, his widow Gabriel said she “would like to see changes in every ward and department” to address “inadequate care”.
Sarah Rees, non-executive director and chair of the quality assurance committee, said she was disappointed by what had happened to Mr Hatfield.
Mr Hatfield was admitted to FGH in September 2024 after a fall at home.
Two months later, he fell unknowingly in a hospital observation room after the supervising nurse left to arrange cover.
Despite surgical intervention and rehabilitation, Mr Hatfield died on December 31, 2024.
Mainly lose weight
Wednesday’s trust committee meeting heard several actions had been identified and implemented, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
These include developing staff break protocols to ensure continued observation of patients and more training to improve handover procedures.
The meeting was also told Mrs Hatfield was unaware of the care partner scheme which allowed her to assist her husband at meal times.
Hatfield’s family said they were aware of his weight loss and had discussed it with the hospital “numerous times.”
Documents submitted to the meeting said: “Mr Hatfield lost approximately 3.5 to 4 stone (22.2kg to 25.4kg) during his time at FGH and Ms Hatfield believed that if she had known [of the programme] He would benefit greatly from the fact that she could come in and help him during meal times. “
Mrs Hatfield told the board she did not want to make a formal complaint about her husband’s care, but she wanted the hospital’s practices to change.
“It was a difficult thing for his three children,” she said.
“It’s a lack of care and it’s a disgrace.”
Director Rees told Mrs Hatfield: “I am very sorry for what you and your husband have been through.”
Interim chief nurse Lynne Wyre, who accompanied Mrs Hatfield, said the ward was “shocked by what happened” and that the incident was “widely discussed at the time”.
She added that the lesson the trust should learn is to “reinforce more of what we should be doing”.
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