The Croydon Times, Saturday December 6th 1924

Coroner and Croydon Hospital

Why a Mitcham Man was not Detained

Doctor’s Explanation

The Croydon General Hospital came in for considerable discussion at an inquest held on Wednesday on a Mitcham man, who was sent there seriously injured, and afterwards died from his injuries at his home

The Victim was Robert Mara, aged 49, a hawker, of Queens Road, Mitcham, who was knocked down by a Ford van on Saturday night in Mitcham Road whilst pushing a barrow, and died on the following day from his injuries.

Mr. F. J. Nightingale, the Surrey Coroner, held the inquest on Wednesday afternoon at Mitcham Mortuary, after evidence of the accident.

A Police Surgeon’s Evidence

Dr. Bentley, the Mitcham police surgeon, was called. He said he saw the deceased at the police station shortly after the accident. The man was in a state of collapse, suffering great pain in the abdomen. There was a severe bruise on the lower part of the abdomen, also a bad cut on his chin. Witness considered it very probable, after examination, that the man had some abdominal organ badly injured, so he ordered his immediate removal to the Croydon General Hospital. The Mitcham ambulance was sent for and the injured man removed in it.

The doctor added that he had made a post-mortem, and found an extensive rupture of the liver, also three extensive lacerations.

The coroner: What I cannot understand is that a man with such serious injuries should be sent to the hospital and then sent home.

Dr. Sydney Gordon Davidson, house surgeon at Croydon General Hospital, volunteered to give an explanation. He was sworn, and said that on Saturday night, about seven o’clock, he saw the deceased man brought to the hospital.

The Coroner: What did you diagnose was the matter with him?

Witness: I saw he had a lacerated wound on the chin, and I was told he had complained of pains in his abdomen. I examined him and tested for any fractured limbs, but could find no trace. I asked him twice if he had any pain left in the stomach, and he said “No.” I felt the abdomen, and he made no complaint.

Coroner’s Questions

The Coroner: Didn’t he appear to you to be in a serious condition?-He appeared to me to be deeply shocked, and I did not think there was any internal injury.
Did you know the history of the case, that the man had been knocked down by a vehicle.
Didn’t it strike you he might have sustained internal injuries?-Yes, and I searched for such injuries, but detected none.
It seems extraordinary to me that a man should be sent to the hospital, obviously suffering from serious internal injuries, and complaining of pains in the stomach, and you could not detect it. Supposing you had come to the conclusion that he had a rupture of the liver, you would have not sent him home?-No, not if I had found it.

No Bed Avaialble

Would it not have been better to have kept him in hospital overnight, at any rate, and seen what was the matter?-We could not.
Why couldn’t you?-We had no bed available.
Would you if you had had a bed at liberty?-Yes sir. The witness added: I might have sent him to another hospital.
The Coroner: What hospital?-Mayday-road Hospital.

No Complaint

The Coroner: But you say if you had had a bed you would have kept him in the hospital.-Yes, I did not think it necessary, or I would have done.
The Coroner: I cannot understand why it was not apparent to you he was suffering abdominal trouble?-I tested his abdomen and he did not complain.
The Coroner: That is what I cannot understand. That was his complaint when he was sent to the hospital, and it was his complaint when he got home.
Witness: I asked him if he had any pain there, and he said “No.”

Quite Conscious

Coroner: But you would have sent him to a place where there was a bed and he would have received proper attention? That is the point I do not understand.-In case of shock there is little anyone can do. My idea was that he would be as well removed home as to another place, so long as he had to be removed.
You thought he was fit to go home?-Yes, he was perfectly conscious.

The Verdict

In recording a verdict of “Accidental death,” and exonerating the driver of the van from all blame, the Coroner remarked: In my opinion, this man ought certainly not have been sent home. His serious injury was ascertained at the Mitcham police station, and I do not think he could have got any better before he got to Croydon Hospital, probably he was worse, and I think he might have been sent on to the other hospital, where he would have had proper attention