HOSPITAL staff failed to spot that an 86-year-old patient had suffered broken ribs in a fall despite the fact that a chest x-ray revealed bleeding in the chest cavity.

An inquest heard that Margaret Holt was given only one dose of paracetamol during a four day period in hospital prior to her death.

Mrs Holt was deaf and partially sighted and had profound difficulty communicating. And the consultant in charge of her treatment accepted that had she been able to communicate with staff more pain relief would have been provided.

"That might have made her more comfortable but it would not have affected the outcome," said Dr Nicholas Roberts, who also confirmed that the first he had known about the broken ribs was when he attended the inquest.

Mrs Holt had lived at Birch Hall Nursing Home, Darwen, for the last 12 years of her life and in recent times had become confused and had started to suffer frequent falls. Her eldest daughter, Barbara Maudsley, told the inquest she had been surprised after her mother's admission to Blackburn Royal Infirmary when staff talked about moving her to Queen's Park Hospital.

Mrs Maudsley said her mother had been in casualty for a long time and had a long and stressful day. Her mother had not been given any pain relief and said that at one stage she had to point out to staff that the wrong patient details were attached to her bed.

Another daughter, Christine Shorrock, said the last few hours of her mother's life had been very uncomfortable.

Dr Roberts said he had not been aware that Mrs Holt's broken ribs but confirmed that she had only been given paracetamol on one occasion to relieve pain.

The medical cause of death was given as bronchopneumonia caused by haemothorax as a result of fractured ribs caused by blunt force chest trauma. Coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death.