Dementia sufferer died after assault by fellow patient

AN 84-year-old Alzheimer’s sufferer died after breaking his leg when he was kicked by another dementia patient who had previously threatened to hit him, an inquest heard.Granddad John Holmes’ death from bronchopneumonia came days after he was k

AN 84-year-old Alzheimer’s sufferer died after breaking his leg when he was kicked by another dementia patient who had previously threatened to hit him, an inquest heard.

Granddad John Holmes’ death from bronchopneumonia came days after he was knocked to the floor of a ward at Rotherham General Hospital.

The other man, 74-year-old Desmond Morton, told staff: “I pushed him and kicked him and if he comes near me again he will get some more.”

Nurse Clare Lunn told the inquest this week that Mr Morton had threatened to hit retired miner Mr Holmes before the fall.

But she revealed that although procedures were in place for dealing with such incidents, they were not acted upon until after Mr Holmes’ death.

Now Mr Holmes’ granddaughters, Rachel (27), and Paula O'Flaherty (23), are considering legal action against the hospital after claiming they were told that “no accident had happened.”

Mr Holmes was pushed or kicked by Mr Morton in an incident during shift changeover around 8.30pm on May 2.

Staff heard a loud thud and Mr Morton shouting “keep him away from me” and found Mr Holmes on the floor.

The day after he had surgery on his hip, Mr Holmes developed a chest infection and, after seeming to recover well enough for his family to await a place for him at a home, his condition deteriorated and he died seven days later.

Cause of death was bronchopneumonia, with emphysema, respiratory disease and heart disease as contributory factors, after the operation left him even more susceptible to infections.

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