By Emily Parsons

Last updated at 12:51, Wednesday, 29 August 2012

The death of a father who collapsed in a hostel has prompted a coroner to write to Carlisle City Council.

Coroner David Roberts

Stephen Hodgson, who was an insulin-dependent diabetic, died of brain damage caused by oxygen starvation three weeks after slipping into unconsciousness at John Street Hostel, Carlisle.

David Roberts, coroner for north and west Cumbria, has invoked his right to make a Rule 43 report.

He told Mr Hodgson’s grieving family that he will personally write to the chief executive of the council to suggest they implement new guidelines for staff on dealing with residents with “physical medical conditions”.

The inquest in Carlisle heard that the 38-year-old had a history of alcohol problems.

Mr Hodgson was born in Carlisle and brought up by his grandmother and great-grandmother in Watch Hill, Aspatria.

Speaking at the inquest, his great uncle John Hodgson said Stephen had been married and had two sons, but sadly later divorced.

He said he believed the “tipping” point for his great nephew came in 1998, when his great-grandmother died in the February, followed by his grandmother in the April.

Stephen Hodgson’s step-father, Mr Gibson, passed away in 1999 exacerbating his grief.

John Hodgson said: “When they weren’t there, he just seemed to drift from one thing to another. The alcohol problem started at about this time.”

Diagnosis as a type one insulin-dependent diabetic in his mid-30s, followed by severe pancreatitis, initially prompted Mr Stephen Hodgson to sober up and eat healthily and regularly but he frequently slipped up and went back to his old ways, his great uncle said.

After spending a few years in South Shields and Liverpool, Mr Hodgson returned to Carlisle and in June 2011 was allocated a bed at the John Street Hostel.

The following months saw him repeatedly banned from staying there after breaching the rules on alcohol.

He was also frequently admitted to the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, for either alcohol-related illnesses or failing to deal with his diabetes.

Mr Hodgson was eventually kicked out of the hostel but a few weeks later reapplied to the council for emergency accommodation.

Staff at the hostel made efforts to address his concerns and he was given a room in the annexe.

At about 7pm on October 31 last year, hostel worker Anthony Belcher was called to the annexe by a fellow resident who was complaining that Mr Hodgson and a second man were drunk and abusive.

The inquest heard that when Mr Belcher and a colleague arrived, the other male was bleeding from the mouth and so he called for an ambulance.

Mr Hodgson was curled up “asleep” outside his door, and unresponsive when Mr Belcher tried to wake him.

Based on the third resident’s report, coupled with knowledge of Mr Hodgson and a smell of alcohol, the staff member assumed he was drunk.

He moved Mr Hodgson into his hotel room and, as is protocol with someone who is drunk, placed him on the floor in the recovery position.

Mr Belcher checked on Mr Hodgson twice during the night before he went off duty shortly after 11pm.

A cleaner discovered Mr Hodgson the next morning.

He was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary where he was found to have a hypoxic brain injury, caused by ketoacidosis – an often fatal condition caused by diabetes.

Treatment was eventually withdrawn, and Mr Hodgson died on November 24.

His half-sister Sarah Forster, who lives in South Shields, told the inquest: “We feel Stephen was let down.”

The coroner took great care in setting out the guidelines for including neglect in a verdict, but said he was satisfied “gross neglect” had not been evident.

He ruled a verdict of misadventure, stating Mr Hodgson had deliberately got drunk and failed to properly manage his diabetes through diet and insulin.

However, before closing the inquest, he addressed the way in which Mr Hodgson had been treated.

Mr Roberts stressed that he accepted the hostel offers only a bed and not care, and residents are responsible for themselves.

But, he said that while staff have all completed a “first aid at work” certificate for cuts and grazes and have a policy for dealing with people with mental health problems, medical conditions such as diabetes and epilepsy fell into a “grey area”.

Jason Gooding, chief executive, Carlisle City Council, said: “We take matters such as this tragic event very seriously and will take any necessary steps to minimise the chance of this type of incident happening again.

“We will take on board the recommendations of the coroner. In the meantime, I would like to pass on our sympathies to Stephen Hodgson's family.”

First published at 11:28, Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk