DOCTORS 'missed an opportunity' to save the life of grandfather Gilmour Westcarr, an inquest has heard.
The 85-year-old died from pneumonia and a bleed on the brain after they failed to carry out a mandatory CT scan.
The father-of-five was taken into Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (GRH) three times before a large subdural haematoma was found.
The inquest heard it caused a loss of power in the left side of his body and a 'shocking' change in him.But doctors put his symptoms down to his dementia and a possibly mini-stroke.
By the time they found the brain bleed it was too late to operate as he had caught pneumonia.
He passed away on February 11 at the hospital.
He was one of the first Jamaicans to settle in Gloucester and lived in Barton Street most of his life.
Son Errol Westcarr described his dad as a 'massive character' and said about 400 people attending his funeral.
The former RAF officer was living at Bramble House when carers found him on the floor on January 14 with a graze on his head.
Two doctors at GRH recommended he be given a CT scan but the next morning Dr Pippa Medcalf deemed it unnecessary.
She prescribed him Clopidogrel to prevent further mini-strokes thins the blood and would have made the haematoma worse.
When questioned she said it was easy to say in 'hindsight' that one should have been done but they cannot be given to everyone with a grazed head.
Assistant deputy corner for Gloucestershire Thomas Osborne recorded a narrative verdict and concluded: "The failure to carry out a CT scan on January 14 resulted in a lost opportunity to render further appropriate medical treatment."
Speaking afterwards son Errol said the verdict was 'bittersweet' and added: "Basic protocols weren't followed.It's unfortunate we ended up here."
The 85-year-old died from pneumonia and a bleed on the brain after they failed to carry out a mandatory CT scan.
The father-of-five was taken into Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (GRH) three times before a large subdural haematoma was found.
The inquest heard it caused a loss of power in the left side of his body and a 'shocking' change in him.But doctors put his symptoms down to his dementia and a possibly mini-stroke.
By the time they found the brain bleed it was too late to operate as he had caught pneumonia.
He passed away on February 11 at the hospital.
He was one of the first Jamaicans to settle in Gloucester and lived in Barton Street most of his life.
Son Errol Westcarr described his dad as a 'massive character' and said about 400 people attending his funeral.
The former RAF officer was living at Bramble House when carers found him on the floor on January 14 with a graze on his head.
Two doctors at GRH recommended he be given a CT scan but the next morning Dr Pippa Medcalf deemed it unnecessary.
She prescribed him Clopidogrel to prevent further mini-strokes thins the blood and would have made the haematoma worse.
When questioned she said it was easy to say in 'hindsight' that one should have been done but they cannot be given to everyone with a grazed head.
Assistant deputy corner for Gloucestershire Thomas Osborne recorded a narrative verdict and concluded: "The failure to carry out a CT scan on January 14 resulted in a lost opportunity to render further appropriate medical treatment."
Speaking afterwards son Errol said the verdict was 'bittersweet' and added: "Basic protocols weren't followed.It's unfortunate we ended up here."
