A pensioner who died after falling out of bed at his residential home was not picked up by the ambulance service for about five hours, an inquest heard.

Herbert Jones fell at the Hillbeck Residential Care Home, in Bearsted, during the early hours of Saturday, November 17.

The retired police officer had been asleep in bed when staff heard a crashing noise.

A health care assistant went to check on him and found him lying on the floor. Mr Jones, 95, was in pain and could not move so it was decided an ambulance needed to be called.

However, despite the accident happening at about 4am, Mr Jones, who suffered from dementia and had broken his right femur, was not picked up by paramedics for about five hours.

During the time he was on the floor the ambulance service, which said it was busy with other emergencies, called staff at the home to twice to check how he was doing.

He was eventually picked up and taken hospital in Pembury where he was admitted. However, his condition deteriorated and he later died there on on Monday, November 26.

His cause of death was given as pneumonia, dementia and a fractured femur.

Coroner Christopher Sutton-Mattocks heard written evidence from a manager at the care home and Mr Jones’ doctor.

However, he decided he would adjourn the inquest held at Archbishop’s Palace, Maidstone, because he had not heard evidence from South East Coast Ambulance Service around the delay and could not tell if this contributed to Mr Jones’ death.

He also wanted more information from doctors at the hospital about Mr Jones’ condition. Mr Suttton-Mattocks said it would be wrong to continue and reach a conclusion.

He said: “I will adjourn for witnesses to attend to answer those questions. It would be wrong to continue and reach a conclusion.”

A date for Mr Jones’ inquest to be concluded it yet to be set.