AN 81-year-old woman was diagnosed with constipation and discharged from hospital two days before she died because of a perforated ulcer, an inquest heard.

AN 81-year-old woman was diagnosed with constipation and discharged from hospital two days before she died because of a perforated ulcer, an inquest heard.

Greater Suffolk coroner Dr Peter Dean said earlier diagnosis of Jean Ravenscroft's condition by Ipswich Hospital would have increased her chances of survival.

The pensioner, of Dukes Park, Woodbridge, was being treated with steroids for a rheumatic complaint known as polymyalgia rheumatica before she was taken ill.

The hearing at Endeavour House in Ipswich was told the steroids may have masked just how serious Mrs Ravencroft's condition was when she went to hospital for treatment to a stomach complaint on February 22.

After she was assessed as being constipated, the OAP went home to be cared for by her family.

However, the following morning concern for her well-being increased as Mrs Ravenscroft began to feel worse and district nurse Patricia Tyler was called. Later the same morning, as her condition continued to deteriorate, a GP was also called to Mrs Ravenscroft's home.

The pensioner was admitted to Ipswich Hospital the same day and was operated on by a consultant who discovered Mrs Ravenscroft had a perforated duodenal ulcer. Despite the operation she died in hospital the next day.

The inquest was told the cause of Mrs Ravenscroft's death was septic shock from multiple organ failure and the perforated ulcer.

Dr Dean recorded a verdict of complications following the perforated duodenal ulcer possibly caused, and initially masked, by pre-existing steroid treatment.