Missing Patient Froze to Death

An inquest has revealed the elderly man found dead in the grounds of the Royal University Hospital froze to death after he went missing from his ward.

80 year old Francis Cunningham was found dead in the hospital grounds early on February 14 2013, hours after he was reported missing.

An inquest has now revealed the man, who had been told he could not leave hospital as his needs were too great, froze to death after he escaped with his belongings.

Coroner Andre Rebello recorded a verdict of ‘accidental death’ for Cunningham, who was deaf and suffered from lung cancer.

Rebello insists the hospital did everything it could and Cunningham had shown no intention of self harm.  He said:

“On the evening of May 13 Francis John Cunningham left 3Y of Royal Liverpool University Hospital with his possessions. He was medically fit for discharge, planned discharge to a care home had not yet been put in place. He was found in the grounds of the hospital having died.

“Because he had full capacity and chose to leave, this is a tragic accident. No-one intended this and everything was done in the way it should’ve been done. It was perhaps unfortunate that his medical condition and palliative care needs were such that it wasn’t possible for him to be cared for in his own home.”

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