The final, heartbreaking words of a devoted wife to her husband have been revealed at an inquest into her tragic death following a fall in a Liverpool hospital.
Valerie Kneale, a 75-year-old grandmother, told her husband Alan, "I think I’m going to die, Alan" just hours before a catastrophic fall from a bed at the Royal University Hospital. The incident, which occurred in September 2022, left her with severe head injuries from which she never recovered.
Alan Kneale, her husband of 54 years, has been left shattered by the loss of his "soulmate," describing a life together filled with love and travel that was abruptly cut short. He is now demanding answers and accountability from the NHS trust.
A Preventable Tragedy?
The inquest heard alarming details about the circumstances leading to Valerie's fall. Despite being assessed as a high fall risk and requiring constant supervision, Mrs. Kneale was left alone. The court was told that the side rails on her bed were not raised at the time of the incident.
Area Coroner Katie Sutherland recorded a conclusion of death by misadventure, highlighting a "missed opportunity" to implement falls prevention measures that could have saved her life.
A Family's Grief and Quest for Answers
Speaking with immense grief, Alan Kneale stated, "I have lost my soulmate and my best friend... We just want to make sure this doesn’t happen to another family." The family’s anguish is compounded by the belief that her death was preventable.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offered "sincere condolences" to Mrs. Kneale’s family and confirmed that a thorough investigation has been conducted. The trust insists that significant changes have since been made to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again.
