A CORONER ruled there was no blame attributed to a care worker after a disabled woman suffered injuries when attempting to transfer herself from her wheelchair to her bed.

Winifred Hilda Cumberbatch, who liked to be known as ‘Hilda’, died peacefully at Furness General Hospital on July 29 2022 at the age of 82.

Cockermouth Coroners Court heard she fractured her left humerus when her carer Catherine Frank, a care worker from Twilight Years home care treatment service in Barrow attended her home address in the early evening of July 5.

When the evidence in the inquest was originally heard on March 13, it was said Ms Cumberbatch and Ms Frank typically used a piece of fabric to plug a gap between the wheelchair and the bed – and that Ms Cumberbatch would then propel herself onto it.

The court heard on that occasion the usual fabric they used was unavailable, so Ms Cumberbatch used a blanket or quilt cover to trap between the bed and her wheelchair.

The court was told Ms Cumberbatch then became trapped between the bed and her wheelchair and as a result started sliding down the gap.

She then fractured her arm when Ms Frank attempted to provide support to Ms Cumberbatch by lifting her back into the wheelchair, the court heard.

As a result, Ms Cumberbatch was taken to the A&E department by her son where her condition worsened.

The court was told she went on to develop a chest infection and pneumonia before eventually being placed on palliative care on July 27.

At Cockermouth Coroners’ Court on April 25, Coroner Craig Smith said he could not attribute any blame towards the care worker or Twilight Years for the incident.

He said: “I am satisfied the gap was filled between the chair and bed because the wheelchair couldn’t be positioned flush.

“I am satisfied Hilda became stuck and it was then necessary to try and get her back into the wheelchair.

“The fracture occurred when she put her hands on the care workers shoulders, who had the intention of supporting her back into the wheelchair.

“At this point she heard a pop or a cracking noise and then Hilda mentioned her arm.”

Mr Smith concluded there was no evidence Ms Cumberbatch was deprived of basic medical care.

He added: “It is clear there were no adverse problems beyond Ms Cumberbatch’s day-to-day presentation and treatment.

 “She had been receiving care from Twilight Years for a significant period of time.

“It is clear when doctor or hospital treatment was needed, this was properly dealt with by the attending carers.

“There is no evidence of gross failure on behalf of Twilight Years.

"I also know Ms Frank has continued in her role as a carer and two years later we have not heard of any other incident. Therefore, this does seem like the company operates within the correct parameters. 

As a result Mr Smith the test for Regulation 28 of The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 had not been proven for action to be taken in order to prevent further deaths.

The court was told Hilda had lived in Barrow for her whole life and that she was a retired cleaner.

She had a number of medical conditions including atrial fibrillation and ischemic heart disease and was ‘generally frail’.  

She had been receiving care from family and care workers for the past five years, the court heard.

Coroner Smith recorded the death as an accident due to hospital acquired pneumonia and left ventricular systolic dysfunction and left humerus fracture.