AN ELDERLY man was found dying on the floor of his home ten hours after a routine care appointment was missed, an inquest heard.

Herbert Rogers, 74, had not been seen by a carer for 24 hours when he was found semi-conscious in his Brighton flat having fallen.

He was taken to hospital but died five days later having suffered from pneumonia and organ failure, Brighton Coroner's Court heard yesterday.

Paramedics who treated him on the evening also raised concerns about his care because he was still wearing his hospital wristband from an admission weeks earlier, and hospital pyjamas.

Dementia sufferer Mr Rogers was supposed to have two daily 15-minute visits at his sheltered accommodation in Leech Court, Brighton, from a carer supplied by Mears, contracted by Brighton and Hove City Council.

But on April 1, his scheduled appointment at 9.15am was missed and the carer who arrived for his evening appointment at about 7pm found him unconscious and having vomited, the coroner was told.

The inquest, which has been adjourned until March, did not hear about when he was thought to have fallen.

The pathologist noted it was difficult to measure what impact on his health the delay in finding him had had.

But pathologist Doctor Mara Quante said his pneumonia was “very extensive,” adding: “He might not have had it that extreme if he had been found earlier.

"Possibly it could have been treated earlier.”

She suggested a provisional cause of death as multi-organ failure and pneumonia with an underlying fall and collapse.

She also suspected advanced dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr Quante stressed it was “difficult to say” what the impact of any delay could have caused, adding: “Even if he had gone to hospital and had some pneumonia it’s not always that easy to treat.

“It’s a possibility that he might have made it but also a possibility that he would not.”

The coroner heard that Mr Rogers had had at least two previous falls although it is not clear if Mears knew of the incidents, the inquest heard.

Widower Mr Rogers had previously been a caretaker at the building where he lived.

Yesterday his niece, Hannah Rogers, told the Argus: "We will never know quite what impact any delay had but now it's a case of making sure it never happens to anyone else and that they put in place safeguarding measures.

"He was a caretaker there so he looked out for other residents.

"It is unfortunate that when he needed people to look out for him, it seems it was not there."