‘Devastated’ family prepare to take legal action over death of mother

THE family of a woman who died after hitting her head in a fall over a ‘trip hazard’ as she walked out of the Bristol Royal Infirmary is preparing to take legal action against hospital chiefs, as a coroner investigates her death.

- TRISTAN CORK [e-mail]

An incident investigation report found mum-of-two Lorna Loxton fell on the way out of the BRI when her three-wheeled walking frame became lodged in a protruding metal flap.

‘The 55-year-old had gone to the BRI from her home in Wells, Somerset, to attend a cardiology appointment, but tripped and fell on the way out, broke her hip and hit her head on the floor. She was rushed back in, underwent surgery on her hip, but her health deteriorated and she never left the hospital again.

Her family said they are ‘devastated’ over her death, which happened at the end of January this year, and are now being supported by a law firm, as the inquest into her death approaches. Lorna spent much of her life in Bristol, and more recently lived in Wells.

She had suffered genetic disorder in her later life, called myotonic dystrophy, a debilitating illness that causes muscle wastage and weakness.

Her son Mark, 35, also lives with the condition, and both he and Lorna’s daughter Danni, 30, spoke of their pride in their mother living her life with the condition. She had previously loved riding and caring for horses, and had three dogs - Jodie, Ria and Mia.

“Mum was such a lovely person, she loved animals so much,’ said Danni, an entertainment manager who lives near Bournemouth. “She would donate to animal charities regularly, and the money collected at her funeral went to the WWE, she would have loved that.