A 97 year old Tetbury woman admitted to hospital after a fall at home made a good recovery in hospital - but then died from infection after being discharged, an inquest heard today.

Gloucestershire senior coroner Katy Skerrett concluded that Margaret Weaver's death resulted from an accident.

The Gloucester inquest in Wednesday, September 24 heard that Mrs Weaver, who was living independently, was found on the floor of her kitchen by her daughter Caroline Payne, from Avening, on November 2 last year.

She was admitted to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and found to be suffering from a fractured neck of femur, which was operated on. She also had a sub-dural haematoma - a bleed inside the skull - and was hypothermic. It was also thought she may have suffered a stroke.

Doctors realised she also had an infection but could not determine immediately what type it was so she was put on broad spectrum antibiotics.

Within days of arriving in hospital she had another fall trying to get out of bed and her mattress was then put on the floor of her ward, her daughter stated.

The inquest heard that despite her age and all her problems Mrs Weaver made a 'surprisingly good recovery' in hospital and on November 26 was discharged to the Priory care home in Tetbury after staff assessed her as suitable.

However, her condition then deteriorated and she died on December 3.

A pathologist's report gave cause of death as urinary and respiratory tract infections secondary to the acute sub dural haematoma, her age, heart disease and the fractured femur causing her to be immobile.

The coroner said there was a combination of causes of death but she regarded the haematoma as the most significant. It had resulted from the original fall so the right conclusion was accidental death.