A devastated daughter is hoping for answers at an inquest into the death of a grandmother who 'was the heart of the family.' 

Described by loved ones as previously fiercely independent, Doreen Pilling suffered a severe fall in September 2023 which was witnessed by her family.

The 93-year-old, from Burnley, was in extreme pain after the incident and was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital where it was discovered her right leg was broken.

However, Doreen, who during her working life was a food technology teacher at Burnley College for adults with learning disabilities, never came home from hospital.

After treatment at the Royal Blackburn Hospital and Pendle Community Hospital, where she was transferred to, Doreen died on October 24. Her cause of death was said to be hospital-acquired pneumonia, due to a fracture of her right leg, and frailty of old age.

Doreen’s family are concerned about the hospital treatment she received for her broken leg and feel this was not good enough and could have contributed to her deterioration.

The inquest is expected to investigate the treatment Doreen received at the hospitals, as well as claims her fall was due to an ambulance technician’s error.

In a letter to Doreen’s family the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has stated that the ambulance technician who attended to Doreen should never have used a rolled-up towel to try to lift her when she became trapped in her bathroom in the early hours of the morning due to a loss of power in her legs, as this was unsafe. It states that if the correct equipment had been used, it is unlikely that she would have fallen to the floor.

Daughter Christine Fitzpatrick, 65, also of Burnley, said: “My mum was the heart of the family and words alone are not enough to describe the impact of her death in such distressing circumstances. We want answers about her treatment and to give her a voice. She spent so many years helping others and would want lessons to be learned where needed to protect other patients.”

Madeleine Langmead, a specialist medical negligence solicitor at law firm JMW, has been asked by Christine to investigate the care Doreen received from NWAS and the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, which is responsible for the Royal Blackburn and Pendle Community Hospital.

She said: “This is a very tragic case as Doreen suffered incredibly in the last weeks of her life and her family had to witness this. The coroner’s verdict about Doreen’s death will form a key part of my investigation as it will hopefully provide vital information about the actions of the ambulance technician, Doreen’s deterioration in hospital and whether this could have been avoided.”

Before her death, Doreen lived in her own flat in the Townfields retirement complex in Burnley. While her family helped her with her shopping, Doreen cooked all her own meals and enjoyed going out regularly for coffee. She had previously been a Salvation Army Soldier after her husband Ken’s death in 2008 and had enjoyed delivering food parcels to Burnley people on Christmas Day.

A North West Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “Our sincere condolences go to Doreen’s family during this difficult time.

"Following concerns they raised over the care Doreen received on 3 September 2023, we completed a thorough internal investigation. Those findings have been sent to the family, and we have offered sincere apologies for the mistake that was made and the distress it has caused.

"We are participating fully in the coronial process; however, it would be inappropriate to comment further until that is finished."

The inquest into Doreen’s death will take place on Wednesday April 10, at 10am at Preston Coroner’s Court.