A CITY woman has told an inquest that she feared a handrail at a city nursing home could have contributed to her mother's death.

Worcestershire coroner Victor Round, heard the family of Ruth Williams say they were worried that a 15in gap in a handrail at Henwick Grange Nursing Home, in Henwick Road, St John's, could have been a factor in the death of their mother after she fell down a flight of stairs.

Mrs Williams, aged 88, who was a former nurse, died at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Sunday May 12, three weeks after being admitted on Friday, April 26, following the fall.

But the coroner said he could not say that the gap in the handrail, at the top of the stairs, was the reason behind Mrs Williams's fall and added it would be "supposition" to do so.

"The family's point is that she fell at or near the top of the stairs where the banister does finish 15 inches from the doorway," he said.

Difficulties

"A younger person would not notice but, for someone using it for stability, it could mean difficulties.

"But there were no witnesses and people fall down stairs with or without hand rails and will continue to do.

"So I cannot consider it proved that the shortfall was the cause of the fall."

The inquest heard Mrs Williams - who was described by her daughter Eluned Smith as being partially-sighted, frail and breathless - had died from head injuries and a heart condition after hitting her head on a wooden post on the stairs as she fell.

Mr Round, who said inspections of the staircase had found them to be well lit and with a deep carpet, added that the pensioner had also fallen earlier that day after attempting to climb a steep step outside the nursing home.

During the inquest Mrs Smith said she felt it had been "a shame" no one had accompanied her mother up the staircase, but added she was very happy with the care her mother had received.

After the inquest she said she had been very impressed with the nursing home and would recommend it to others.

"My mother had only been there four days but was very happy," she said.

"It is a good nursing home and all the family wanted to do was to raise an issue which was of concern to us."

Mr Round returned a verdict of accidental death.