A FORMER police officer died from a bleed on the brain after suffering two falls - one of them from his hospital bed.

Thomas Howie, aged 90, of Braeside Road, West Moors, Ferndown, died at Poole Hospital on August 19, 2020.

On Wednesday, December 30, at Dorset Coroner's Court, Bournemouth Town Hall, an inquest was held into his death.

During the hearing, presided over by coroner Rachael Griffin, the court heard how Mr Howie had fallen out of bed while on a ward at Poole Hospital the previous month.

Mr Howie's daughter, Sandra Hancock, whose written statement was heard as evidence at the inquest, believed her father's condition had worsened significantly after this fall while under the care of the hospital.

However, Mr Howie also suffered a second fall at home days after being discharged from hospital following his initial visit.

On both occasions, the hearing heard, he was assessed and there was no clinical evidence showing he had suffered any head injury.

Mrs Griffin heard that Mr Howie, who served most of his working life as a police officer with the Metropolitan Police, was admitted to Poole Hospital on July 23, in relation to his congestive heart failure.

"He was treated for the heart failure and whilst an inpatient, overnight on the 25th July, he fell from his bed on the ward," said Mrs Griffin.

"He was found laying on the floor."

After reviewing all of the evidence available at the hearing, including statements from medical professionals, Mrs Griffin said she was satisfied this was an accidental fall and that medics assessed Mr Howie for a head injury and he had reported none.

However, Mrs Griffin also said: "I do note the comments from his daughter that it was from this point that he seemed to change and become more confused."

Mr Howie was discharged home on August 4th, but on August 13 he had another fall – but again did not report any head injury.

It was only when his condition worsened and he was readmitted to Poole Hospital on August 16 that medics carried out a CT scan and discovered a large subdural haemorrhage.

He died at the hospital three days later.

Mrs Griffin said: "It is clear that the cause of his death was the subdural haemorrhage

"On the balance of probabilities this is a traumatic injury.

"The difficulty I have is that in establishing on the balance of probabilities, when that traumatic injury occurred.

"It is very difficult to say exactly when that traumatic injury occurred. But what I can say, however, is that I am satisfied that the traumatic injury was an accident .

"There is no evidence to suggest that injury is the result of any third party involvement or any suspicious circumstances at all.

"I also note he was properly prescribed anticoagulation therapy, warfarin."

One of the problems with anticoagulation is it exacerbates any bleed that occurs, the hearing heard.

Mrs Griffin concluded: "Mr Howie died as a consequence of the injuries he sustained in an accidental fall, exacerbated by the recognised complication of anticoagulation therapy."