A GRIEVING family have said their beloved dad's death following a fall at a care home was 'an accident waiting to happen'.

Frank Pearson died on September 24, 2018, at Russells Hall Hospital, four days after falling in the toilet at Amberley Care Home on Stourbridge Road. The 88-year-old suffered from a bleed on the brain, a broken shoulder and four fractures to his neck. He also suffered a cut to the head which required 25 stitches.

The inquest into his death took place on December 17 at Black Country Coroner's Court, having been adjourned from October 14 to allow care home management to gather more details of Mr Pearson's care plan and fall assessments.

The court heard how Mr Pearson went to the toilet unaccompanied after teatime on September 20, despite his care plan stating he should not be left to walk without a member of staff present.

Susan Foster, manager of Amberley Care Home, told the court how Mr Pearson was a 'private' and 'independent' man who did not like to be accompanied to the toilet and staff wished to respect his privacy in line with the home's 'dignity policy'.

She added that she did not think 'it would have made any difference inside the toilet' if Mr Pearson had been walked to it.

When asked if lessons had been learned from Mr Pearson's death, Susan Foster replied: "There's always lessons learned, definitely. I'm insisting that no matter what a member of staff will walk to the toilet with them."

On the occasion of the the fall, Mr Pearson walked to the toilet by himself and was not seen by any member of care staff until a member of staff who was hoovering on the corridor outside the toilet heard a thud and Mr Pearson cry for help, the court heard.

The staff member found Mr Pearson lying awkwardly on the floor and bleeding heavily. They raised the alarm and paramedics were called, who took Mr Pearson to hospital.

Closing proceedings, assistant Coroner Emma Serrano recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

She told Mr Pearson's family: "He seems like a lovely man and I would have preferred to have met him in life. I won't encourage you to dwell on today and to focus on the lovely memories you have of him."

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Pearson's son Kevin Pearson explained that the family were expecting an accidental verdict, but their concerns with the home, which began when Mr Pearson first moved there last February, remain.

Kevin said: "From day one the family had concerns with what was happening but we couldn't get dad moved because it was all down to money."

Mr Pearson was a former heavy goods driver for Dudley Council, who never had a day off work. He enjoyed playing the piano and loved birds.

Kevin paid tribute to his father as a "family man who put his kids first."

He added: "He was well loved by all the family."

Frank's granddaughter Kerry Pearson added: "Our grandfather had his family around him everyday. I'm thinking of the residents who didn't have any visitors."

Standards chiefs from the Care Quality Commission launched an inspection into home on Stourbridge Road home following Frank's death.

The report, which was published last week, stated the home 'requires improvement' across each of the areas it assesses on safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and how it is led.

Amberley was criticised for not 'consistently' managing risks to people's safety and not mitigating risks to ensure people received safe care.

However the report praised the staff and manager of the home as 'caring' and 'kind' and stated that inspectors had been told by users and relatives that their 'dignity and privacy was respected'.

The manager of Amberley Care Home did not wish to comment on the report when approached by the News.

Frank's granddaughter Emma Pearson-Cougill said that the family will be taking further action.