A murder investigation into the death of a grandmother on an NHS stroke ward was 'seriously compromised' by delays in raising the alarm, an ex-detective told a coroner today.
Valerie Kneale, 75, was described as alert and talkative when she was admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital on November 12, 2018 after suffering a stroke and breaking her ankle in a fall at her home.
But overnight her condition rapidly deteriorated, and her heartbroken family agreed to withdraw life support after being told she was likely to spend the rest of her life in a vegetative state.
It was only three weeks later that police launched an investigation into her death, with a post mortem finding that the retired clerical assistant had died because of a 'forceful sexual assault' at least 48 hours before she died.
Detectives were already carrying out an ongoing probe into allegations of mistreatment and neglect on the stroke ward.
