Fall led to woman's death (From Watford Observer)

Rosalia Mistretta died a month after falling in bathroom

1:50pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News By Adam Binnie, Senior Reporter

A Watford woman died on Christmas Eve following a fall in her bathroom a month before, an inquest heard today.

Rosalia Mistretta, from Tudor Walk, suffered a massive bleed on her brain after the fall, on November 24.

The 77-year-old slipped in her bathroom and banged her head on the tiles, and was monitored by family throughout the day, which she spent lying on the sofa falling in and out of sleep.

The next day she went to the GP who checked her head, eyes and reflexes, and told her to come back after the weekend.

However, by November 25, Mrs Mistretta was complaining of a headache, was unsteady on her feet and agitated.

Her son and daughter decided to ring an ambulance but they were advised that a visit from a doctor would be more appropriate.

The family decided to take her to Watford General Hospital themselves, at 2.30am, where she was seen by an emergency doctor at 4.40am.

She was agitated and restless and had weakness in all four limbs. By 8.10am her Glasgow Coma Score, a measure of consciousness, had reduced, as had her platelet count, a blood component which aids with clotting.

A CT scan was ordered and showed a massive bleed in her head, and compression on the left side of the brain.

She was transferred to Charing Cross hospital and on December 6 had an operation to extract the haematoma.

A further CT scan showed the results were satisfactory, and she was transferred back to ward, but her general condition worsened.

Fluid began to build up in her lungs, and she died on December 24.

Coroner Edward Thomas said that although the fluid caused her death, Mrs Mistretta suffered from other conditions which contributed to her death.

She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2006, making her more likely to fall, and two other conditions, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, or abnormally low platelets, and hepatitis c, would have made it difficult for her blood to clot.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death, and added: "Because of her age, and liver and blood problems, her system just packed up. The rest of her conditions were too much for her and she couldn't cope with it."

Mrs Mistretta was born in Acquaviva Platani in Sicily on August 20, 1934, where she was buried. A retired seamstress, she leaves husband Salvatore Mistretta, and two children, Joe and Fina.

Joe Mistretta said: "When we sit down in the light of day and think about all her ailments, it was just too much for her, she suffered a lot but that's the way it goes."