Pauline Margerat Bradley

On 27th November 2025 an inquest was opened and adjourned into the death of Pauline Margerat Bradley aged 90 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 24th April 2026, the conclusion of the inquest was accidental death.  

Mrs Bradley died at Hull Royal Infirmary following admission for an unwitnessed fall at home. Upon admission Mrs Bradley was diagnosed with community acquired pneumonia, fractures and multiple bleeds in her brain.

Over the course of her admission she tested positive for RSV and was transferred to Ward H90 were she was put into a cubicle as she was deemed to be an infection risk for others. There had been a falls risk assessment and Mrs Bradley was a Level 2 risk of falls. This meant hourly observations.  

Mrs Bradley’s family were engaged with staff throughout but were not told upon admission to Ward H90 that they could stay and provide one to one observations themselves.  

On the 24th October at around shift change between 19:30hrs and 20:30hrs Mrs Bradley suffered a further fall this time in her cubicle. She was discovered by a staff nurse a short while after handover. A further scan was requested and new bleeds were shown ion the scan. Because of this fall Mrs Bradley was reassessed as Level 3 falls risk and one to one supervision was requested. Family were told of this fall but not that Mrs Bradley had suffered a period of unconsciousness. Family ultimately provided round the clock support at hospital until Mrs Bradley’s death on 8th November 2025.  

Her medical cause of death was recorded as:

1a. Aspiration pneumonia and intercerebral haemorrhage (joint case) 1b. Falls

Mrs Bradley died at Hull Royal Infirmary following admission for an unwitnessed fall at home. Upon admission Mrs Bradley was diagnosed with community acquired pneumonia, fractures and multiple bleeds in her brain.  

Over the course of her admission she tested positive for RSV and was transferred to Ward 90 were she was put into a cubicle as she was deemed to be an infection risk for others. There had been a falls risk assessment and Mrs Bradley was a Level 2 risk of falls. This meant hourly observations.  

Mrs Bradley’s family were engaged with staff throughout but were not told upon admission to Ward 90 that they could stay and provide one to one support themselves should they wish.  

On the 24th October at around shift change between 19:30hrs and 20:30hrs Mrs Bradley suffered a further fall this time in her cubicle. She was discovered by a staff nurse a short while after handover. A further scan was requested and new bleeds were shown on the scan. Because of this fall Mrs Bradley was reassessed as Level 3 falls risk and one to one supervision was requested. Family were told of this fall but not that Mrs Bradley had suffered a period of unconsciousness. Family ultimately provided round the clock support at hospital until Mrs Bradley’s death on 8th November 2025. The family at inquest raised concerns abouit5 communication with families on the ward and said that they felt it could be better.  

Mrs Bradley was not found straight away following her fall as there was no alert system in the cubicle in the form of bed movement sensor or falls mat as the falls mats available on the ward were in use with other patients.