The widow of former newspaper editor and town centre manager Kevan Blackadder says she plans to take legal action alleging medical negligence after he suffered a fatal fall in a hospital ward.

Mr Blackadder, 60, had been unable to get any help from staff when he wanted to use the toilet at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, his wife Liz Lewis told an inquest on Thursday (June 24). He tried to make it to the toilet alone - but fell and fractured his skull, she said.

"My whole experience at the hospital was extremely shocking and I want answers as to why somebody in their care suffered such a fatal fall," Ms Lewis added.

She said that her husband had been forced to spend two days on a trolley in the hospital on Jan 13th and 14th this year before even being admitted to the ward where he later died on January 18th.

After the assistant Gloucestershire Coroner Roland Wooderson had recorded an accidental death conclusion, Ms Lewis added that she plans on bringing a medical negligence claim against the NHS trust which runs the hospital.

The inquest was told that Manchester-born Mr Blackadder, of Knapps Crescent, Woodmancote, near Cheltenham, was suffering from bowel cancer and was receiving palliative care.

His widow said that on January 13th this year he kept on falling over at home and she became so concerned that she called an ambulance. He was then taken into A&E at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

But, she stated, he was kept on a trolley for two days before being admitted.

She also claimed that the A&E staff and the clinical staff on the ward had not consulted each other about her husband's light headedness and had differing views about the cause.

The inquest heard that on May 17th this year Professoressor Mark Pietroni, director for safety and medical matters at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, wrote to Ms Lewis and offered his condolences.

He wrote that, in summary, Mr Blackadder had been receiving palliative care for his bowel cancer and had been admitted to the hospital on January 14 after his condition had deteriorated.

"Following successful removal of excessive fluids from his body the hospital planned to keep him in for a few days for observation," stated the Professoressor.

"However, he suffered an unwitnessed fall as he attempted to make his way, unaided, to the toilet during the early hours of 18th January 2021.

"The fall resulted in a fracture of his skull and bleeding within the brain and he died within eight hours of his fall.

"His injuries were attributed to the injuries sustained during the fall. He was already weakened by the infection and had become disorientated in an unfamiliar environment upon waking up.

"It is likely he suffered a drop in blood pressure upon standing up. This probably led him to fall due to his medication for bowel cancer.

"On admission he had been assessed as able to use the bell to summon assistance."

Mrs Lewis interjected at that point in the Professor's statement and told the coroner that her husband had tried summoning help at 4.55am and had received no response so he chose to go to the toilet unaided.

Assistant coroner for Gloucestershire Roland Wooderson continued reading Professor Pietroni's statement which said "There were no warning signs to indicate that Mr Blackadder was at risk of falling over."

The inquest heard that when Ms Lewis arrived at the hospital after Mr Blackadder's fall she was concerned at his appearance as he was still covered in congealed blood, especially on one of his ears.

She stated that the staff showed 'little sympathy' towards her husband and that this was illustrated by the delay in cleaning him up.

Emma Hart, ward manager, stated to the inquest that this was an exception to the high standards normally adhered to in the hospital.

Ms Lewis added: "When Kevan first arrived at the hospital he spent two days on a trolley. I was told that the medical staff didn't think he would make it out of hospital alive.

"The hospital staff called me to inform me that Kevan had suffered a fall. As soon as I arrived, I noticed he was barely conscious and covered in blood. His right ear was particularly covered in congealed blood.

"At 11.55am my husband stopped breathing and I went for help. A nurse replied 'He's gone'. I stayed with him for the next hour.

"As I left with my husband's belongings I asked the nurses to clean him up. I was utterly disgusted with their attitude.

"My whole experience at the hospital had been extremely shocking and I want answers as to why somebody in their care suffered such a fatal fall."

After the coroner had announed his conclusion of accidental death Ms Lewis told him she planned on bringing a medical negligence claim against the hospital authority.

Read more: Tributes to Cheltenham BID director and former Gloucestershire Echo editor 

Mr Blackadder's career in journalism began at The Whitehaven News in Cumbria, the county where he was raised from the age of eight.

After working for the Sunday Independent in Plymouth, he moved to the Bristol Evening Post where he rose to assistant editor before his move to Cheltenham, Glos, to become editor of the Gloucestershire Echo in 2008.

After leaving the Echo in 2014, he remained in the Cheltenham and was appointed town centre manager before leading the local BiD (Business Improvement District).

At the time of his death many leading lights in the media and business world in Cheltenham paid tribute to Mr Blackadder - as did volunteers with the local branch of Crimestoppers, for whom he had been a tireless volunteer.

Michael Ratcliffe MBE, chief executive of Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce, said "Kevan was an indefatigable member of the Chamber of Commerce and a real stalwart.

"As editor of the Gloucestershire Echo, and then Town Centre Manager and latterly chief executive of the Business Investment District, he played an important part in the well being of our town.

"His enthusiasm and common sense attributes inspired all those with whom he worked, and he will be missed very much indeed."