Hospital not at fault for woman's death: coroner

A Porirua woman who fell downstairs after being discharged from hospital following surgery and died the next day was not released too early, a coroner says. File photo / Sarah Ivey

An 87-year-old Porirua woman who fell downstairs after being discharged from hospital following cataract surgery and died the next day was not released too early, a coroner says.

Grace Hancock was released from Wellington Hospital on September 16 2008.

That evening she lost her balance while walking down the stairs of her home on Ash Grove in Ranui Heights and fell. She died in hospital the following day from a brain haemorrhage caused by the fall.

Wellington Regional Coroner Ian Smith said he was initially concerned that an elderly woman with poor eyesight had been discharged so soon after an operation, but after hearing of Ms Hancock's "independent and indomitable spirit" he was satisfied she was given appropriate care.

- NZPA