Fatal flaws that cost a man’s life

HOSPITAL staff failed to treat a Failsworth man with a fractured skull because they thought he was drunk, an inquest heard.

Arnold Siddall (47) cracked his head after being pushed to the ground following an argument outside the Lock pub, Oldham Road, next door to his home, in September 2007.

Paul Parry (25), of Assheton Road, Newton Heath was cleared of manslaughter by a jury in 2008. But his trial heard that the Royal Oldham Hospital missed two opportunities to save Mr Siddall’s life — first allowing him to leave without seeing a doctor and later leaving him outside because staff thought he was being disruptive.

When he was finally seen after suffering a fit, 15 hours after first being admitted, he was gravely ill. He died two days later.

After the trial Judge Mr Justice Openshaw condemned the actions of the hospital and wrote to the Health Trust and Oldham coroner Simon Nelson, asking them to launch a thorough investigation.

At the start of a five-day inquest at Oldham County Court yesterday, Mr Nelson said it was unusual for a judge to report directly to a coroner and for an inquest to be resumed after a court case. His inquiry will focus on Mr Siddall’s care, rather than the altercation.

The inquest heard that Mr Siddall had been socialising in the pub but left at 11.45pm, returning at 1.30am to complain about noise.

Pub owner David Cowlishaw was told Mr Siddall had been knocked unconscious and was being looked after by an off-duty nurse.

Paramedic Paul Hardman arrived by ambulance at 1.52am and said Mr Siddall didn’t want to be examined and became verbally abusive. Eventually her agreed to go to hospital.

Basic tests showed nothing untoward, but Mr Siddall would not give personal details. Mr Hardman filled out a form stating “Condition: intoxicated. Patient fell and banged head on floor. Loss of consciousness for three minutes.”

Nurse Joanne Pendleton couldn’t remember the patient, but a form she filled in at 2.45am stated the patient’s condition was “wholly attributable to alcohol”.

Mr Siddall was first put in a wheelchair in a waiting room but then walked out unsteadily. He returned at 4.20am but was told not to go further into the wards and again said he was heading home.

He was later seen on CCTV in the hospital grounds and at 4pm, security guards propped him up against a tree because they thought he was drunk.

The hearing continues.