Doctors did not spot broken back, inquest is told

Medics who examined Marie Cliffe, 88, in hospital said she could go home.

But her condition deteriorated and a fracture of her lower spine was discovered when she was checked again at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.

She was transferred to spinal experts at Southampton General Hospital but died the following day, August 23 last year.

In a rare move, the hearing at Central Hampshire Coroner’s Court in Winchester was adjourned so the coroner could interview more doctors.

Mrs Cliffe’s daughter, Beren Cliffe-Roberts, said her mother was staying at their house in Durley when the accident happened.

She added that her mother, who lived at Lower Lane in Bishop’s Waltham, often stayed with them and knew the property well.

However, late at night, Mrs Cliffe left her room and her daughter said she was woken by the sound of her falling down the stairs.

An ambulance took her to Winchester where x-rays were taken but did not identify the fracture.

Mrs Cliffe-Roberts said: “I was told by the doctor that she had been incredibly lucky and no broken bones had been detected and she could be discharged more or less straight away.”

She added: “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing quite frankly. It was extremely surprising, and the staff nurse was also surprised.”

She said her mother’s condition worsened after that, which led to her being transferred.

Christopher Dare, a spinal consultant at Southampton General Hospital, said they could not operate because of Mrs Cliffe’s age.

He said: “It was almost certainly an unsurvivable injury.”

Central Hampshire coroner Grahame Short said he also wanted to interview Dr Rabie Mohamad and Dr Aravind Pillai who both worked at the Winchester hospital, but due to a “communications breakdown”

had not attended the hearing.

As a result, the coroner adjourned the inquest until both doctors could give evidence.

It is not yet known when the inquest will resume.