SOUTHAMPTON hospital chiefs have defended their care after criticism from the family of a pensioner who died on a ward.

Ada Smith, 97, from Totton, suffered a brain haemorrhage after a fall at Southampton General Hospital earlier this year, an inquest heard.

She “amazed” staff by waking from a coma, but soon deteriorated and died a week later.

The family told the hearing that staff failed to check on her, put her in an unsuitable bed, gave relatives mixed messages and spoke to them “like a headteacher talking to a pupil”.

One relative even claimed nurses “starved her to death”. Allegations of poor care were denied by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, who admitted “documentation and communication” could have been improved.

The inquest heard how Ms Smith, of Windermere Gardens, was rushed to hospital on March 20 after complaining of breathlessness.

Medical notes said she suffered intermittent confusion and was at risk of falling. She fell in the early hours of March 24 after trying to go to the toilet, hitting her head on a drugs trolley.

Geriatric consultant Dr Catherine Akerman said she made an amazing recovery from the ensuing coma, waking the next day and walking short distances.

However, her brain began bleeding again and she was put on palliative care, dying on April 11.

A post-mortem found Ms Smith had suffered a chronic haemorrhage before hospital admission.

Senior coroner for central Hampshire Grahame Short recorded a verdict of accidental death, ruling that the fall ultimately led to Ms Smith’s death.

Daughter Eileen Forrester said nurses weren’t aware of key details and had given contradicting accounts of her mother’s health, forcing her to “grab” Dr Catherine Akerman for clarification.

Ms Forrester said: “You were like a headteacher talking to a pupil and I found you very arrogant. We were suffering because my mother was on a downturn. We didn’t have the fight in us to fight back.”

Dr Akerman apologised for any communication problems, along with matron Tracey Aldin.

Juliet Pearce, the trust’s head of patient safety, said in a statement after the inquest: “We would like to express our sincere condolences to Ms Smith’s family following what has been a very difficult experience for them.

“Although we have no concerns over the clinical care provided to Ms Smith, our investigation highlighted instances where documentation and communication between staff and with family members could have been improved."

“As a result, we have carried out extensive training and education and will continue to monitor competency in these areas in the future."

“We will continue to provide our full support to Mrs Smith’s family and will be meeting with them in the coming weeks to discuss any remaining concerns they have.”