Inquest: Fall woman’s three-hour wait for ambulance

A pre-inquest review at Burnley Coroner’s Court heard Mrs Christine Stafford, of Wordsworth Street, Hapton, died in the Royal Blackburn Hospital on April 6th.

Mrs Stafford, who was said to have a history of alcohol abuse and falls, had fallen down the stairs of her home on April 5th. She rang a friend to tell her about the accident, who then rang for an ambulance.

When an ambulance arrived, three hours later, Mrs Stafford was found collapsed on her bed. She was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital where a CT scan showed a subdural haematoma.

Staff at Blackburn consulted specialists at the Royal Preston Infirmary who advised that no medical intervention was suitable.

Witnesses, including those from the North West Ambulance Service, will give evidence at a full inquest at a later date.