Doreen Piling, a retired teacher and a beloved grandmother, sustained severe fractures after paramedics dropped her at her home in Burnley, Lancashire while using a bath towel instead of proper lifting equipment. She was taken to hospital and later developed pneumonia, eventually passing away almost two months after the incident. The coroner deemed this a “culpable human failure” contributing to her death. Her daughter, Christine Fitzpatrick, described her mother’s suffering as “harrowing” and expressed her grief, noting that her mother deserved better care. Doreen, known for her independence, was a former food technology teacher who lived alone and volunteered for the Salvation Army.
Doreen’s fall and subsequent injuries occurred when emergency services were called to assist her in her bathroom, where she was discovered immobile. The technician attempted to lift her with a rolled-up towel instead of proper equipment, leading to a “controlled descent” and a severe leg fracture. She was hospitalized, where she contracted pneumonia and passed away. Her family expressed gratitude to the coroner for investigating the care she received and hoped for changes to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future. Doreen’s commitment to her community and her independence were highlighted, and concerns about her treatment in the hospital were raised by her daughter.
The inquest into Doreen’s death concluded that the incident was a result of a careless mistake by the ambulance technician. The family’s solicitor welcomed these findings, noting the catastrophic consequences of not following safety procedures when handling patients. The North West Ambulance Service expressed regret for the error in care and offered condolences to Doreen’s family. Lessons learned from this incident were emphasized to prevent similar incidents in the future, especially when dealing with elderly patients who are at a higher risk of injury. The family urged for improved procedures to ensure proper care for patients in similar situations.
Doreen Piling’s passing left a lasting impact on her family, who witnessed her decline and suffering following the incident. Despite efforts to raise concerns about her treatment in the hospital, the coroner did not find them to be related to the cause of her death. However, detailed auditing and monitoring methods were requested to ensure better care standards moving forward. Doreen’s legacy as a teacher, community member, and volunteer for the Salvation Army was remembered by her family, who hoped for changes to prevent such incidents and provide better care for elderly patients in similar situations. The importance of following safety protocols when dealing with patients was emphasized to avoid tragic outcomes like Doreen’s.
The incident involving Doreen’s fall was a result of a recklessness that led to severe consequences for the elderly woman. The family’s solicitor highlighted the need for lessons to be learned from this incident to prevent similar errors in the future. The ambulance service expressed their remorse for the mishandling of the situation and committed to additional training to prevent such incidents from occurring again. The family’s grief and the impact of Doreen’s death on her loved ones were highlighted, along with the hope for changes to ensure better care standards for elderly patients in similar situations. The inquest findings provided answers to the family and confirmed their belief that the incident was avoidable with proper care and procedures in place.
