An elderly woman died after a fall from a chair in hospital while nurses were treating another patient, an inquest heard.

Born in Stoke Newington on March 2, 1929, Stella Essex – formerly Solomons – died at Watford General Hospital on February 6 this year.

An inquest held at Hatfield Coroner’s Court today heard that Mrs Essex, of Dene Gardens, in Stanmore, was admitted to hospital earlier this year where scans showed the 85-year-old had suffered a stroke.

The former fashion shop worker was kept at the stroke unit in hospital for a number of days before seeing physiotherapists on February 5, who carried out their assessments.

Physiotherapists recommended that she should move around more with the help of two nurses, and later that evening she was walked to the bathroom with their help.

On her return, she indicated she was not ready to go to sleep and was put in a chair by the side of her bed.

A nurse sat with her for a brief period, before attending to another patient on the ward behind closed curtains.

The nurse then said she felt Mrs Essex reaching out for her but by the time they were able to get out, they found she was on the floor.

As her behaviour had not changed following the fall, she was helped back into bed but her condition later deteriorated.

Her family were called at 3.30am on February 6, by which time Mrs Essex had fallen into a coma. She later died.

Senior coroner Edward Thomas concluded the death was accidental, citing the causes as a subdural haematoma and a head injury.

He said: “It was a time when it was important she was constantly observed but I appreciate the difficulties.

“It is so sad because here was a lady who was actually making a recovery and then this catastrophic event occurs.”