Two men tragically lost their lives just one day apart after experiencing falls while under the care of an overwhelmed hospital in South London.

David Ward, 76, passed away at St George’s Hospital in Tooting on February 10, 2024. The following day, Dr. Debapriya Ghosh, 83, succumbed to injuries sustained in a separate, unwitnessed fall.

Fiona Wilcox, the Senior Coroner for Inner West London, reached out to the Health Secretary, noting that these cases illustrate “impossible situations in which demand clearly outstrips available resources.”

A representative from St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust extended their sympathies to the families, mentioning that “immediate changes” were implemented after the incidents.

Inquests conducted on December 2 of the previous year determined that Ward’s death was the result of an accident exacerbated by neglect. Similarly, Ghosh’s death was attributed to an accidental fall that was influenced by inadequate nursing supervision.

Ward had been admitted to St George’s on February 7, 2024, due to frailty, confusion, and probable infection. Following a visit from his daughter in the early hours of February 8, he did not undergo a risk assessment and received minimal nursing care.

He was later discovered kneeling beside his bed with a head injury and died on February 10. The inquest concluded that elevated care should have been provided based on his risk factors, which could have prevented his fall and subsequent death.

Meanwhile, Ghosh arrived at St George’s on February 9, 2024, exhibiting signs of delirium, an infection, and heart complications. He was treated in a corridor for several hours before being moved to a private room in the evening due to an overwhelmed emergency department.

Nurses did not assess his risk until nearly midnight. When he displayed increased delirium in the early hours of February 10, medical advice was sought, but his nursing risk went unassessed.

He suffered a head injury from an unwitnessed fall around 08:30 GMT and passed away the following day. The inquest revealed that if he had been provided with one-to-one care, his death could have been prevented.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the report highlighted that both men were “left waiting for extensive periods, receiving care from their families instead of adequate nursing support in proper patient spaces.

“As their families departed in the night, both men fell while unsupervised, resulting in injuries that ultimately led to their deaths.”

The coroner pointed out that while St George’s had implemented changes to improve demand management since the men’s fatalities, many shifts in the emergency department remained “exceptionally busy.”

Wilcox expressed concerns that these challenges were causing distress among staff “trying to navigate impossible situations,” potentially leading to higher turnover rates.

She urged the government to investigate the issue, as risks persisted despite the precautions taken by hospitals like St George’s to manage patient demand.

A spokesperson for St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust stated: “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Ghosh and Mr. Ward.

“These incidents were thoroughly examined, and immediate adjustments have been made, which include increasing staffing numbers, ensuring comprehensive fall assessments for patients, and conducting regular quality and safety rounds.

“In addition, we have expanded our Same Day Emergency Care unit and introduced a new departure lounge to help free up beds for patients requiring overnight stays.”

The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for a statement.