The removal of a trim under a door which was not replaced at an Ealing care home contributed to the death of an elderly woman who had a fall, an inquest heard.

90-year-old Iride Brigdale fell in her room at Downhurst Residential Nursing Home in Castlebar Road on September 14, 2013.

The fall caused bleeding between her skull and brain and she later died at Ealing Hospital on September 18.

An inquest on Thursday (December 17) at the West London Coroner's Court heard how handyperson, Linda Gampot, had removed a trim under Brigdale's door on August 23, 2013.

She claimed she it was carried out at the request of a family member because "it was hard for her to go in and out."

The family of Mrs Brigdale refute the claim that such a request took place.

But coroner Chinyere Inyama determined that the removal of the trim increased the risk of her falling, as it left a gap of around 3cm between the carpet in Mrs Brigdale's room and the tiles in the corridor.

The inquest heard that the trim was absent from the floor from August 23 to September 14 and no one had noticed during this time despite claims from the care home that all rooms were checked on a daily basis.

Inyama also established that this removal was a "failure," because Gampot neither followed health and safety procedures for the removal or reported it after she had unscrewed it.

Both Gampot and senior care assistant Monika Skierka admitted that the removal should have been performed by an assistance maintenance person.

Gampot, who said she "forgot" to report the removal, also admitted that she should have reported the procedure immediately to her manager.

Skierka said she was never made aware that the trim had been removed.

Then when asked by Inyama if she should have been told and why, she responded: "Yes, for the safety of the resident."

Though Inyama acknowledged it was a "clear accident," he concluded: "The prospect of her falling was increased by the fact that a trim was removed and not replaced."

The family of Mrs Brigdale have confirmed they are considering legal action.