A stroke was ruled out as the cause of death for a patient who experienced a “forcible sexual assault” while in a hospital, according to details presented at an inquest.
The patient, identified as Valerie Kneale, aged 75, was admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital on November 12, 2018, following a health decline at her residence in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. Initially placed in the stroke ward due to brain bleeding, she reportedly appeared calm and communicative when her family departed late in the evening.
Concerns arose the next morning when a significant deterioration in her condition was observed. Subsequently, it was determined that her stroke symptoms had worsened, and a decision was made to transition Mrs. Kneale to end-of-life care.
Family members remained by her side from November 13 until her passing on November 16. Following allegations of neglect on the stroke ward, law enforcement initiated an investigation into her death.
The post-mortem examination findings revealed that Mrs. Kneale’s cause of death was attributed to a “forcible sexual assault” that occurred during her hospital stay, independent of the stroke. Dr. Alison Armour, a consultant forensic pathologist, emphasized that the stroke did not contribute to her demise and that the severe injury sustained would have allowed for a longer survival period.
The assault was estimated to have taken place at least two days before her death, notably during the overnight shift on November 12/13, the only period she was not under family supervision.
Healthcare assistants discovered extensive blood loss during the handling of Mrs. Kneale’s body for transfer to the hospital mortuary. The presence of significant blood and an unusual odor were noted, with Dr. Armour deeming the lack of immediate reporting on the bleeding as a serious oversight.
The investigation further disclosed damage to Mrs. Kneale’s bladder, an uncommon finding typically associated with traumatic injuries. The delay in addressing the bleeding postmortem was highlighted as a critical error, hindering the preservation of crucial evidence.
Due to cleaning protocols and data deletion, identifying the perpetrator of the assault was impeded, as evidence was compromised by the time investigations ensued. The inquest is scheduled to conclude on Thursday afternoon.
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