April 26, 2017 4.16 pm This story is over 55 months old

Hospital patient died after being impaled on metal post which ‘penetrated his rectum’, jury hears

A hospital patient died when he fell while in a lifting hoist and was impaled on part of the equipment, a jury heard. John Biggadike, 53, suffered “catastrophic” internal injuries after fell on to the protruding metal post. The jury heard that the fatal incident occurred because hospital staff were not using the equipment correctly…
Boston Pilgrim Hospital. Photo: Google Street View

A hospital patient died when he fell while in a lifting hoist and was impaled on part of the equipment, a jury heard.

John Biggadike, 53, suffered “catastrophic” internal injuries after fell on to the protruding metal post.

The jury heard that the fatal incident occurred because hospital staff were not using the equipment correctly and had instead devised their own way of operating it.

At the time of the incident in April 2012, Mr Biggadike, who lived in Spalding, was receiving physiotherapy at the Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, in preparation for his discharge home.

He died as a result of his injuries.

Adam Farrer, prosecuting, told the jury at Lincoln Crown Court that the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, was to blame for Mr Biggadike’s death because staff were not trained to use the hoist and should have been supervised.

Mr Farrer said: “The prosecution do not blame individuals. The prosecution say the trust failed to train them properly and point out the obvious risks.

“Essentially the case is that the trust failed to train its staff how to use the hoist properly.

“That led to the staff devising their own way of using the machine. It was not intended by the manufacturer that the machine was used in that way. You don’t need hindsight to see that it was dangerous.

“There was a lack of training, supervising and monitoring.”

Mr Farrer said that the incident occurred during a break in Mr Biggadike’s physiotherapy to allow him to use a commode.

A knee support on the hoist was removed and Mr Biggadike fell as he was being assisted up after using the commode.

Mr Farrer said: “When he finished using the commode two members of staff went to assist him.

“Almost immediately he collapsed and fell onto the post which penetrated his rectum causing catastrophic internal injuries and he died.”

The prosecutor said that since the fatal incident the trust has introduced training for staff to use the Arjo Encore lifting hoist.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust denies breach of health and safety regulations by exposing non-employees to risk by failing to train, supervise and monitor its employees in relation to the safe use of the lifting hoist.

The trial continues.