A PENSIONER who died after falling out of a bed at York District Hospital disengaged a safety barrier, the city's coroner has decided.

Thomas Staveley probably died after releasing a barrier on the side of his bed while reaching for a urinal bottle, Donald Coverdale told an inquest.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Coverdale said his decision made "on the balance of probabilities" was the most likely explanation for the 70-year-old's death.

Mr Staveley, a retired railway worker, of Beckfield Lane, Acomb, died of a brain haemorrhage, a blood clot on the lungs and heart problems, on August 5, 2001.

He had been admitted to hospital on August 2, suffering from headaches and dizziness.

Two days later in the early hours of the morning he fell out of his bed sustaining a badly bruised eye and chest. He died 24 hours later.

Mr Coverdale visited York District Hospital to see how the barriers, known as cot sides, were fitted.

He originally adjourned the inquest on November 1 because he was not satisfied with evidence regarding the protective rails.

Yesterday Nichola Spencer, a practice development nurse at the hospital, told the inquest she had never heard of or seen an occasion where a rail had collapsed.

She also confirmed that a cot side policy regarding their use had been in place for more than ten years.

Mr Coverdale said he believed the fall caused the brain haemorrhage which contributed to Mr Staveley's death.

But he added: "It is not appropriate for me to issue any recommendations for remedial action to be taken on the use of the cot sides or equipment in use at York District Hospital.

"It is not right to speculate too far but I believe on the balance of probability, as strongly as I can put it, that it (the rail) was released by Thomas Staveley himself when wanting to reach out of the bed for his bottle."

At the end of the inquest, Mr Staveley's widow, Vera, said: "He was a gentle man. I still can't believe this was possible. He had never been in a hospital before.

"They have concluded it was an accident and I suppose that's what we will have to accept."

A York Health Services NHS Trust spokeswoman said: "We understand that this is an extremely distressing time for the family of Mr Staveley.

"We would like to express our sympathy to them.

"We are satisfied that all the necessary action was taken by hospital staff following this incident and know that they acted quickly and efficiently in reporting the accident.

"The accident was thoroughly investigated by the hospital and by the coroner.

"Each patient is assessed before being placed in an appropriate bed."

Updated: 08:58 Thursday, April 18, 2002