A FORMER teacher and nurse died in hospital after doctors and carers failed to treat pressure sores properly, an inquest found.

Norris Ryan, 78, died at Basildon Hospital from sepsis and heart failure, two months after he was first admitted.

An inquest found “a number of failings from all professionals” had contributed towards his death.

Mr Ryan, who had taught at St Nicholas School, Laindon, and Mayflower School, in Billericay, was diagnosed with dementia and kidney disease.

He first moved into a care home in 2011.

Between October 28 and November 25, 2014, he spent time in hospital.

He was readmitted within two weeks of being discharged, suffering from severe pressure sores.

Mr Ryan died on December 31.

A coroner recorded his cause of death as “sepsis and heart failure caused by the pressure sores."

Chelmsford Coroner's Court heard the pressure sores developed after Mr Ryan was discharged from hospital and returned to his care home, which has not been named.

The hospital, in Nethermayne, was held responsible for failing to follow up on the fitting of a cast during Mr Ryan's first stay.

In her written judgement, coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray said: “The deceased had a medical history of dementia and chronic kidney disease and had resided in a care home since 2011.

“He was admitted to Basildon Hospital on October 28 and discharged on November 25.

“When he was readmitted to hospital on December 8 he had grade three sacral area pressure sores.

“He died on December 31 from sepsis and heart failure caused by the pressure sores.

“There were a number of failings from all professionals in following up on the cast which had been put in place on November 20.

“There were failings from all professionals in connection with the care and treatment of the pressure sores.”

An obituary posted in a Billericay Methodist Church newsletter following Mr Ryan’s death described him as a “family-centred man, always immaculately dressed."

As well as teaching, he also briefly worked as a nurse in Basildon.

Mr Ryan was born in St Vincent, in the Caribbean, and moved to Essex in the Sixties.

A Basildon Hospital spokesman said: “We are always committed to learning from the outcome of any inquest.

“In this case the coroner identified a number of administrative changes which will improve our patients’ experience and standards of care.

“The issues identified did not contribute to Mr Ryan’s death.”