Sheriff blames poor safety at nursing home for death fall

A SHERIFF has ruled higher safety standards in a Scots nursing home could have prevented the death of a woman who broke her neck falling from a wheelchair.

Mary Devine, 89, was being pushed down a ramp at Greenbank Nursing Home in Hamilton when she fractured her spine in May 2005.

She died of pneumonia in hospital nine days later, a fatal accident inquiry at Hamilton Sheriff Court was told.

Last night it emerged Sheriff Joyce Powrie had ruled that appropriate footrests and a seat belt might have helped avoid the death.

Last night Ian Wilson, director of the home, said: "We will look at the determination thoroughly and make sure all lessons that can be learned from it have been learned."