HIGH risk patients at Salisbury District Hospital are to be given coloured plaster casts for fractures after a 57-year-old man developed sepsis and died, an inquest has heard.

Simon Strong of Crescent Road, Bulford, died on May 27, 2016 after his leg became infected following a fall outside his home.

Salisbury Coroner’s Court heard on Tuesday that Mr Strong had a history of alcohol abuse and suffered from advanced liver cirrhosis.

Admitted to the hospital on May 7, 2016 with a fractured ankle, doctors decided to place Mr Strong’s leg into a split plaster cast for three months, rather than operate on it due to his medical conditions.

The court heard in the early stages Mr Strong did not comply with restrictions, putting weight on his ankle and fell as he tried to get out of bed.

He was transferred from orthopaedics to Redlynch ward on May 12 and monitored regularly.

Doctors said he was intermittently confused for most of the time, a symptom of his liver disease, but said his leg presented no cause for concern other than being swollen, another symptom of cirrhosis.

On May 23, treatment was prescribed for his deteriorating kidney function and on May 26 he appeared more lucid.

However the next day, staff saw a foul-smelling yellow discharge coming from the cast on his right leg and doctors immediately treated him for sepsis.

When the plaster cast was cut off, his lower leg was entirely infected.

David Sheppard, the consultant in charge of his care from May 23, said: “Liver patients deteriorate exceptionally quickly as they have no reserve.

"They can be very well on the morning ward round and really unwell by lunchtime.”

The cause of death was given as sepsis, cellulitis and chronic alcohol liver cirrhosis.

Guy Barham, an SDH consultant who oversaw an inquiry into Mr Strong’s death, told the court a number of changes had been made to patient care since.

They include having a list in the plaster room of all patients with a cast, daily patient visits by plaster technicians, improving communication between ward sisters on complicated cases, earlier recognition of patients at risk and coloured casts for high risk patients.

Mr Barham said he suspected Mr Strong had a fracture blister under his cast which burst on May 27.

Coroner Ian Singleton recorded a narrative verdict and said: “There was no evidence to suggest Mr Strong’s leg deteriorated before May 27.”