Mid Staffs nurse ignored pleas of dying patient, tribunal hears A 2010 inquest, the first from the hospital to be heard in front of a full jury, reached a verdict of death by neglect. Mrs King and her ward manager Jeannette Coulson are accused of a series of blunders while working in the Trauma and Orthopaedics ward between 2005 and 2010, the NMC heard. Their alleged failings came to light when a Healthcare support worker, known to the hearing as HCSW, and another nurse blew the whistle on their poor standards. The woman who died in the railings in March 2005, named only as Patient A, had been admitted to the ward with a broken leg and appeared to be agitated due to withdrawal The woman was bed-bound and had been placed in a side room of the ward. "During the handover HCSW could hear Patient A shouting for a bed pan and for some assistance," said Rebecca Wood, for the NMC. HCSWA tried several times to get up and attend to Patient A but was repeatedly told to sit down by nurse King. She told him the patient was fine, and that she seen to her earlier. "Patient A continued to shout and seemed to be getting more and more agitated and at one point shouted "help me, help me." Ten minutes later the woman became silent and the auxiliary worker went check on her. "As he approached the door he saw a puddle of urine coming from under the door and when he entered the room he found Patient A at the bottom of her bed with her head wedged in between the bars in an extended section that pulled put on a trolley for taller patients," Miss Wood said. Patient A's head was swollen and purple and she was not moving. The alarm was raised and emergency CPR commenced, but Patient A could not be resuscitated. As the auxiliary left the patient's room, he was pushed up against the wall by another nurse, Karen Salt, who said words to the effect of "keep your mouth shut," it is claimed. Coulson witnessed the incident and she looked over towards the assistant him as if to say she agreed with Salt, the tribunal heard. King did respond to patient requests, prevented HCSWA from attending promptly to the patient and did not ensure the woman's safety, it is claimed. As ward manager, Coulson failed to ensure the patient's safety, it is alleged. Both nurses are also accused of failing to recognise that Mrs Astbury was diabetic. Mrs Astbury, who suffered from confusion following a stroke, was admitted to A&E on April 1, 2007, and was transferred to the Trauma and Orthopaedics ward seven days later. While in A&E a doctor stated that her blood sugar levels should be checked hourly. Both women deny ever being told the grandmother, identified in the hearing only as Patient B, was diabetic. "If they had looked, they would have seen this information recorded in her notes," said Miss Wood. Describing the lead up to Patient B's death Miss Wood said she had been checked my another nurse had asked for her blood sugar to be tested, and noted that it was very high. Due to a breakdown in communication Patient B did not receive her diabetes medication. On April 10, 2007 the patient was found collapsed in her bed with her blood sugar levels "off the charts," said Miss Wood. She died later that night. A police investigation was launched but the Crown Prosecution Service ruled there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. Both nurses had failed to ensure adequate tests were carried out on the patient and failed to ensure adequate records of her care were kept, the tribunal heard. King denies all allegations against her, while Coulson admits using inappropriate language and replacing a sign that stated what times relatives could speak to staff after it had been taken down. She also admits refusing to accept a patient on the ward after surgery stating: "Get her off this f------ ward," and swearing at HCSWA when he was unwell. Neither of the nurses is attending the central London hearing, which continues.