A mother died from “natural causes” just hours after being sent home from an out-of-hours GP service, a coroner has concluded. 

Julia Hunt, of Beccles Road, Gorleston, died at the James Paget Hospital (JPH) after suffering a large bleed on the brain.  

The court heard that the 63-year-old amputee had hit her head after falling from her wheelchair while getting out of a car on May 15.  

She was taken via ambulance to the accident and emergency department at the JPH and was seen by an out-of-hours GP service located there before being discharged. 

That evening, her husband found her “unresponsive” at home and 999 was called again to take her to hospital. 

Her family were informed that she had suffered a “severe and inoperable bled on the brain”. 

The retired sales assistant died on May 16.    

During the inquest, held at Norfolk Coroner’s Court in Norwich on December 21, her family raised concerns about her treatment after the initial fall. 

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk Coroner's CourtNorfolk Coroner's Court (Image: Newsquest)

But senior coroner, Jaqueline Lake, said she believed the correct procedures had been followed. 

She said: “Mrs Hunt was seen by a triage nurse at the hospital and assessed. 

“There were no concerns with regards to a fracture or any significant injury. 

“The criteria for when a [CT] scan should be taken has been reviewed and I am satisfied that there was no requirement for a scan to be undertaken at that time. 

“She was discharged with a safety netting leaflet and advice.” 

A scan carried out during the second admission to hospital revealed an acute large bleed to her brain, deemed to be spontaneous rather than trauma related 

The medical cause of death was given as spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage. 

Mrs Lake gave a conclusion of death by natural causes.