A FORMER AWE Aldermaston employee who was awarded a British Empire Medal for his services died in hospital after a fall outside his home, an inquest has heard.

Ronald Lay BEM, known as Ron, suffered with sight loss and was crossing the road outside his home on Burney Bit, Pamber Heath, on June 20 2020 when he tripped and fell, Winchester Coroner's Court heard on Tuesday (March 30).

His wife called the emergency services and a number of neighbours also attended, as well as his grandson Jack.

The 89-year-old was taken to hospital in an ambulance and initially appeared to be doing well, undergoing surgery to fix his fractured hip.

However his condition deteriorated and he sadly passed away at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital on July 21.

Mr Lay’s son, John, told the court that his father was “very much a family man”, adding: “He worked hard and was generous with his time.”

Mr Lay had served in the Royal Navy for eight years before joining AWE Aldermaston in 1986. His work involved nuclear trials, and he spent long periods of time in America.

He was married to his wife for 68 years and they had two children, Valerie and John. They had lived in the “family home” in Pamber Heath since the 1950s.

Since his retirement at the age of 65, Mr Lay’s health had deteriorated. He had numerous health conditions and suffered three strokes, the last of which left him partially blind.

He was also a carer for his wife, who was diagnosed with dementia, and the pair “struggled to cope” at home, John told the court.

Although a care package was in place for the couple, as well as family-funded private care for Mrs Lay, concerns had been raised by the family that Mr Lay would be better cared for in a residential setting, particularly following stints in hospital in late 2019 and early 2020, also following falls.

John said the family “can only thank” the staff at Tadley Medical Partnership and Basingstoke hospital for the “care and attention” they gave Mr Lay, but added that they “do feel he was let down” by social care services.

“He was ill, but if there had been a better care package in place he would have been in a safe environment. It should not have got to a stage where my dad was told to go back home. As much as we were trying to help out, it wasn’t enough.

“For his life, he deserved to have been treated better.”

Assistant coroner Samantha Marsh said the couple “appeared to be very happy together”, adding: “Sadly, it would appear that age had caught up with them. They were trying very much to look after each other, but it was becoming more and more of a struggle with both their health conditions.”

She continued: “I do appreciate that the family’s view is that they should not have been at home, but I have had no evidence to suggest that there was complete neglect.

“I am satisfied that his risk of falling was unmodifiable. He could not sit still, he wanted to get up and walk around, and he did not always take his walking aid with him. I cannot say that [residential care] would have prevented him from falling.”

She recorded a verdict of accidental death, adding: “Ron deliberately mobilised on that day, but what he did not intend to do was fall and injure himself.”