A FORMER Northumberland subpostmistress died after falling from a bed at her care home, an inquest heard.

Eileen McEwan, 80, who was subpostmistress at Longwitton, died in November 2009 at Wansbeck General Hospital in Ashington from bronchopneumonia.

However, north Northumberland coroner Tony Brown yesterday heard her admission to hospital came after she had fractured her wrist and femur when falling from a bed at Terravis Park care home in Morpeth, where she was a resident.

The inquest, at Wansbeck Business Park at Ashington, heard criticism from Mrs McEwan’s family of staff at the home’s handling of that episode.

The coroner heard from Stephanie Wilson, who on November 12 that year was employed as a senior carer at the home on the town’s Choppington Road, owned by Kay Care Homes based at Walbottle.

Days before, Mrs McEwan had returned from the hospital where she had been treated for a chest infection.

Ms Wilson claimed on the morning in question she had advised Mrs McEwan to sit in a chair in her room while she made her bed, and went downstairs to get her breakfast.

The carer then said she was told Mrs McEwan had fallen on to the floor, having apparently fallen while trying to get into the bed.

Ms Wilson told the inquest she noticed the resident appeared to have fractured her wrist and phoned a doctor’s surgery to report the fall.

The carer furthermore recalled how with colleagues, she had lifted Mrs McEwan and put her onto the bed. She claimed the resident appeared to be comfortable.

An ambulance arrived some time later and Mrs McEwan was taken to the hospital.