A murder investigation into the death of a grandmother on an NHS stroke ward was ‘seriously compromised’ by delays in raising the alarm, an ex-detective told a coroner today.
Valerie Kneale, 75, was described as alert and talkative when she was admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital on November 12, 2018, after suffering a stroke and breaking her ankle in a fall at her home.
But overnight her condition rapidly deteriorated, and her heartbroken family agreed to withdraw life support after being told she was likely to spend the rest of her life in a vegetative state.
It was only three weeks later that police launched an investigation into her death, with a post mortem finding that the retired clerical assistant had died because of a ‘forceful sexual assault’ at least 48 hours before she passed away.
Detectives were already carrying out an ongoing probe into allegations of mistreatment and neglect on the stroke ward.
But no one has ever been charged over Mrs Kneale’s death.
After police scaled back the criminal investigation earlier this year, an inquest began today into the pensioner’s death.
It heard that after her death on November 16, 2018, healthcare assistants noticed bleeding as they prepared her body for the mortuary – but they failed to report it.
Valerie Kneale, 75, was alert and talkative after being admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital on November 12, 2018, after suffering a stroke, but deteriorated rapidly overnight and her family agreed to withdraw life support
Following Valerie Kneale’s death, staff at Blackpool Victoria Hospital (pictured) failed to report bleeding as they prepared her body, which a retired detective today said ‘seriously compromised’ her murder investigation
No one had noticed it before her death – possibly due to clotting, or the position she was in, the inquest in Blackpool heard.
Retired Det Chief Inspector Jill Riley said this had ‘seriously compromised’ the murder investigation.
It meant opportunities were missed such as a forensic examination of her room because it had already been occupied by other people.
Additionally, CCTV had been wiped from cameras and her clothing had been disposed of.
Access to the stroke unit – via a door activated by a buzzer system – was also poorly monitored, with staff ‘tailgating’ colleagues, she said.
‘The delay was significant and affected any investigation we could carry out,’ the retired detective told the hearing.
Dr Christopher Douglass, a consultant neurologist, said he had been shocked at gaps in case notes during Mrs Kneale’s time in hospital.
There was a five-hour gap between her family leaving on her first night in hospital and a 21-hour gap the following day.
The heartbroken daughter of ‘murdered’ stroke unit patient Valerie Kneale (pictured) today told her inquest she will always regret leaving her alone after she was admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital before her death in November 2018
‘There were lots of steps in her notes where we don’t know how we got from there to there,’ he said.
‘There is a fog.’
Her daughter Sharon told the inquest that on her second day in hospital Mrs Kneale started scratching her chest and her groin.
‘Staff told me it was probably involuntary movement but I think she was trying to indicate or tell us something,’ she said.
‘I regret that I left her alone in hospital that Monday.
‘I question myself “Why didn’t I stay?”
‘I never saw mum open her eyes again.’
The family later found a towel had been placed between her legs for unexplained reasons.
A statement was read from Mrs Kneale’s husband Bill – who has since died – saying his wife had never wanted to be a burden on anyone.
‘We made the heartbreaking decision to let nature take its course,’ he said.
The inquest continues.
