Ex-miner died after doctors at hospital 'missed' neck injury

It was ruled the decision to discharge him was "not unreasonable", however.

Charlie Bradley, 84, fell out of bed and suffered a prolapsed disc, but despite having a swollen neck and suffering "pins and needles" he was deemed fit to be discharged by doctors.

He fell again at home and was in such agony that five days later he was taken back to Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

A hearing a Doncaster Coroners Court heard that a scan showed the damage but it was too late to be treated and he died three days later.

Pathologist Dr Kim Suvarna said Mr Bradley died from a spinal cord injury caused by the prolapsed disc.

Mr Bradley's son Timothy told the inquest that for a man of his age his father's fitness level was "no less than astounding".

Mr Bradley fell out of bed at home on December 20, 2009 and had an "obvious" swelling to the back of his neck and was in "large amounts" of severe pain, according to his son.

He was taken to casualty at the Doncaster hospital where doctors gave him morphine for the pain and sent him for an X-ray.

A mix-up meant he was twice sent to radiology before an X-ray was carried out which necessitated four trips on a trolley along a long, bumpy corridor. No fractures were found.

Timothy Bradley said his father was then given a mobility test and although he was not moving well and kept holding his neck "in check" to restrict movement he was discharged. The family were told if he was kept in hospital there was a risk he might pick up an infection at his age.

Mr Bradley sat still in his chair at home in Scawthorpe, Doncaster for the next few days then fell out of bed again on December 23.

He said he was in more pain and after being given extra painkillers by his GP was readmitted to the infirmary on Christmas Day.

A CT scan was carried out and doctors feared he had a spinal injury so he was transferred to Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital for neurological assessment but he died on December 28, 2009.

Locum consultant at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary Sami Kheder said it was "very reasonable" for Mr Bradley to be discharged on what the doctors knew at the time.

Dr Philip Stannard, a consultant radiologist at DRI, said the widower had suffered an unusual injury. He said: "It is unusual to see soft tissue injuries of this nature in isolation in someone of his age."

Mr Umang Patel, a consultant neurosurgeon at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, said the patient was unable to use his arms or legs when he arrived in Sheffield.

He said if he had seen him on December 20 when he was presenting "pins and needles" he "might just have been a bit more cautious" but it would have been difficult to spot the injury.

He said the fall on the 23rd probably "added insult to injury". Once the spinal cord had started to swell it was "irretrievable" after that.

Assistant deputy coroner Mark Beresford said all the factors combined to make the decision to discharge Mr Bradley "not unreasonable" given the circumstances.

Recording a narrative verdict the coroner said the patient was "treated appropriately" and discharged after which he suffered a further accident to exacerbate his condition.

Mr Beresford said an MRI scan at the Hallamshire Hospital revealed a cervical disc prolapse which "ultimately led to his death".

Timothy Bradley and his wife declined to comment after the inquest.