Great-grandmother’s tragic death at Birmingham hospital linked to hospital falls and infections

An 82-year-old great-grandmother, Janet McCabe, who was described as a “fighter” and was preparing to return home after a major hip operation, tragically died following two falls during her stay at Good Hope Hospital in Birmingham.

Mrs. McCabe, a beloved matriarch from Bordesley Green, was recovering well after extensive surgery in October 2025 to treat a hip infection. Her family had arranged mobility aids at their Malvern farm in anticipation of her discharge. However, in November, she suffered a painful fracture when she fell and an unreported incident occurred where a healthcare assistant (HCA) reportedly “fell on top of her.” The HCA later claimed it was a “near miss” rather than a fall, but the incident was not reported at the time, complicating investigations.

Despite being designated a high fall-risk patient with recommendations that two staff assist her while mobilising, Mrs. McCabe had only one assistant present during the November incident. A month later, in December, she dislocated her hip again after slipping from a chair.

Her hospital stay further deteriorated when she contracted influenza A and hospital-acquired pneumonia. Placed on end-of-life care on January 21, Mrs. McCabe passed away the next day.

An inquest revealed that while her death was from natural causes, it was contributed to by multiple fractures and incidents sustained in hospital. Area Coroner Adam Hodson acknowledged that the falls “did contribute to her death” and that the incidents deprived her of the chance to recover fully and return home.

The family praised the hospital staff but stressed that without the falls, Mrs. McCabe would have left the hospital sooner and avoided catching flu. Her daughter, Helen Bagnall, told the court, “She would have come home, she was coming home. Had she been home, she never would have caught the flu.”

Mrs. McCabe’s death was due to pneumonia and pulmonary embolism, compounded by a chronic joint infection, fractures, Parkinson’s disease, and asthma. The failure to follow recommended care protocols, including proper staffing to prevent falls, was highlighted as a key factor.

Ultimately, the coroner concluded there had been “deficiencies in care” but acknowledged the hospital trust’s steps to address them. Medical professionals praised Mrs. McCabe’s resilience throughout her ordeal, with her surgeon describing her as “remarkable” for her strength.

Her family remembers her as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who fought bravely and left a lasting legacy of love.