Care home resident, 98, died of 'traumatic injuries'

News imageQays Najm/BBC The outside of a bricked building, with cars parked outside, and a fence and brick wall in the foreground. There is a purple and green-coloured banner pinned to the building reading THE WINDMILL CARE HOME LTD.Qays Najm/BBC
A woman was allegedly assaulted by another resident at the Windmill Care Home in Rollesby, Norfolk (pictured in April)

A 98-year-old woman died from "traumatic brain and chest injuries" after she was allegedly assaulted by another resident at a care home, a coroner has heard.

An inquest has opened at Norfolk's Coroner's Court into the death of Emma Maud Sharpe, a retired café owner from Grantham, who died at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston on 19 April.

She had been a resident at the Windmill Care Home in Rollesby when she was attacked - and died six days later from her injuries.

A man in his 60s was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but has since been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. The care home has been placed in special measures.

News imageQays Najm/BBC A brown fence, with a white sign, printed with the words WINDMILL CARE HOME on it.Qays Najm/BBC
The Windmill care home in Rollesby has been operating since 1987

At a hearing on Wednesday, assistant coroner Maeve Sykes said a provisional cause of death was given as traumatic brain and chest injuries, bronchial pneumonia - and Alzheimer's Disease was given as a secondary factor.

A spokesperson for Norfolk Police said officers would continue to investigate the circumstances of Sharpe's death.

A full inquest has been listed for 4 March 2027, subject to the police investigation concluding.

Windmill, which has operated since 1987 and described itself as a family-run facility, was placed in special measures following inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in April and May.

It was rated as "inadequate" in all areas.

In August, a spokesperson for the care home said it has already taken "significant steps" to make the necessary improvements.

Changes so far include appointing a new manager and engaging a specialist consultant to advice on best practice.

"These changes... will ensure that we meet the high standards which we all agree are so essential to a caring facility such as ours," the spokesperson added.

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