Bolton: Elderly man's death after fall ruled as accident

Geoffrey Irving Wood was aged 94 when he died at the Minerva Road hospital in September this year.

An inquest heard how he had been admitted to the hospital’s stroke ward and was found on the floor on the morning of September 15, prompting deep concerns from family members.

A statement to Bolton Coroners' Court written by son Christopher Wood said: “His death was caused by the brain bleed, not the stroke.”

He added: “Individuals recover from strokes, and he could have lived much longer.”

The inquest was held at Bolton Coroners Court

Mr Wood, a retired accountant originally from Mitchum in Surrey, was born in 1929 and had served as deputy town clerk of Westhoughton for 12 years.

The court heard how he had lived alone at his home in Lostock after the death of his wife Jean in 2022.

He was treated for a fall at the Royal Bolton before being discharged on August 26.

But he needed to be readmitted to hospital, first Salford Royal and then Royal Bolton again within days after suffering a suspected stroke at home.

The court heard from stroke consultant Dr Kirsty Ward that Mr Wood had been “a gentleman living with frailty” and that he had suffered delirium.

But she said she delirium was “usually multifactual” and that she could not say if it had been caused by the stroke.

Dr Ward said she was satisfied though that he had been admitted to Salford Royal because of a stroke.

Mr Wood was then transferred to ward three at Royal Bolton as part of the Greater Manchester Stroke Pathway.

It was there that he was found to have fallen from his bed on September 15 at around 7am.

Mr Wood fell out while the health care assistant in attendance had been helping another nearby patient who had been trying to get out of bed.

ALSO READ: 'Concerns' raised over death of elderly man after fall in hospital

ALSO READ: NHS site free from RAAC concerns

ALSO READ: Royal Bolton Hospital A&E attendance figures

The court heard how Mr Wood may have fallen because of an attempt he made to get out of bed as well, or because he had simply rolled out.

After injuring his head in the fall, Mr Wood died just a few days later on September 21 after his condition worsened.

Having heard the evidence, Coroner Ceri Owen recorded that the death had been an “accident” after Mr Wood suffered an “unwitnessed fall".

Closing the proceedings, she said: “May I again reiterate my condolences to the family, friends and everyone who was touched by the death of Geoffrey Irving Wood.”