POLICE failed to help a grandmother who made a 999 call as she lay dying in her own home, an inquest heard.

Profoundly deaf Marion Jones had fallen at her home but had managed to make the emergency call.

However, due to her disability, the 89-year-old was not able to respond to the control room operator.

Southampton Coroner's Court heard a police officer was dispatched to investigate and arrived at Mrs Jones's home in Lucerne Road, Milford-on-Sea, just before 11pm, around 20 minutes after the call. After getting no response at the door, the constable left.

Five days later, a neighbour called police, concerned at not having seen Mrs Jones, known as Moira, for a number of days.

When officers responded on October 13 they saw Mrs Jones lying on the floor of her living room.

In court, Det Sgt Tim Chappell told Mrs Jones's son how the force had failed his mother. The officer had been disciplined and extra training given to frontline officers.

DS Chappell, from Hampshire Police’s professional standards department, said: “After I had finished my enquiries I was quite happy that the officer had not done what he should have done and he had committed a misconduct offence for not doing enough at the scene.

“He didn't knock on any doors, he didn't go around the back of the house and he left.

“At the misconduct hearing it was pointed out to him quite clearly what he didn't do and what he should have done.”

The officer concerned told the misconduct hearing he had not spoken to neighbours because it was late and he did not want to disturb elderly people. He was given management advice, which will remain on his personnel file.

The inquest was not told whether Mrs Jones might have survived if she had been found earlier.

Pathologist Jeffery Theaker said Mrs Jones had suffered a haemorrhage in her abdomen as a result of fracturing her pelvis. He said the injury could have resulted in the body going into shock or into a coma quickly.

At the inquest, Mrs Jones’s son Robert Jones, a Baptist church minister in Wimborne, said he appreciated the force being open about its failings.

He said: “I am more concerned that there is a good outcome in terms of knowledge rather than retribution.”

Coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict of accidental death.