'Hospital failures' led to death of man in Oldham

A coroner has ruled systematic hospital failures led to the death of a man who was left untreated for more than 14 hours after suffering head injuries.

Arnold Siddall, 47, from Failsworth, was pushed over after going to a bar to complain about the noise in 2007.

He was taken to Royal Oldham Hospital but staff assumed he was drunk and ejected him. He died two days later.

Coroner Simon Nelson recorded a narrative verdict, saying the death could have been averted.

Mr Nelson told the inquest at Oldham County Court that the outcome may have been different had he received the appropriate care.

He added that there were systematic failings in the hospital not recognising Mr Siddall's condition or adequately treating it.

Mr Siddall was treated outside The Lock Pub in Oldham Road, Failsworth, by paramedics.

They wrote down that he had lost consciousness but the notes were not passed on, so hospital staff assumed he was intoxicated and did not assess him properly.

He was left alone and when he wandered off, security staff watched him falling over and vomiting in the hospital grounds, the court heard.

CCTV pictures showed him hunched over outside, four hours after being admitted.

The court heard that when he was taken back inside, he was thrown out again for trying to climb out of bed.

He was finally re-admitted after police arrested him for being drunk, but he died two days later.

Bosses from Pennine Acute Trust have since apologised to Mr Siddall's family.

The trust said changes had since been made to the way patients who attend A&E are seen.

Dr Ruth Jameson, medical director for the trust, said: "We have subsequently brought in a number of changes designed to improve the care we provide to patients who attend A&E in similar circumstances as Mr Siddall."

She said these included "the introduction of red patient head injury wrist bands and a formal system for the handover of patient report forms between paramedics and nursing staff when patients are brought in".

Dr Jameson added: "On behalf of the trust I wish to again offer our sincere apologies and deepest sympathy to the family of Mr Siddall for their tragic loss."

Mr Siddall, of Oldham Road, was at The Lock Pub on the same road when he was pushed in the early hours of 22 September.

The man who pushed him was cleared of manslaughter at Manchester Crown Court in 2008.