A HOSPITAL was too short-staffed to supervise a vulnerable pensioner, who died after falling and breaking her hip, an inquest heard.

Bosses at Southampton General Hospital have apologised to the family of Margaret Warren after she fell out of bed when she was supposed to be under constant care.

The 80-year-old, who suffered from dementia, was also put at risk when she was made to wait ten days for surgery, Winchester Coroner’s Court was told.

Seven patients needed one-to-one nursing in January last year and agency nurses could not fill the shift to look after her, said ward matron Pat Spacagna.

Mrs Warren had been taken to hospital for plastic surgery on December 10, 2013, after falling at her care home in Old Alresford.

But the Winchester housewife suffered several complications during her three-month hospital stint, falling twice in the week after she was assessed for one-to-one care.

Trauma from breaking her hip during the second fall led to pneumonia and infections.

Her condition deteriorated and she died on March 31.

The family also complained about a ten-day wait for surgery and told how Mrs Warren had been taken off food at least twice before operations were postponed.

Kay Warren, her stepdaughter, told the inquest: “Because of the wait, her health deteriorated, I feel. And looking at her history [of chest infections], we would have thought she had been fair priority, in that if it was done earlier ... the lengthy stay in hospital would have been shorter.”

“She would still be with us today,” added daughter Sue Bilsland.

Ms Spacagna apologised on behalf of nurses who left crash mats unused and failed to put Mrs Warren in a lowered bed. She said that F3 ward has allocated an extra two nurses per shift, bought new mats, increased use of low beds and boosted staff training.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, south Hampshire assistant coroner Sarah Whitby said that the hospital “didn’t do what it should have done” but could not find a direct link between its actions and her death.

Neil Pearce, associate medical director for patient safety, said: “We understand what a difficult experience this has been for Mrs Warren’s family and our thoughts remain with them.

“Despite undergoing the appropriate risk assessments, Mrs Warren was not monitored as regularly as she should have been and, regrettably, suffered two falls during her admission with us.

"As a result of our investigation into her death, we have increased staffing levels to reflect the complexity of patients on the ward and ensure the safest possible environment.”