A family has paid tribute to their mother from Wells after she died following a fall over what has been described as a "trip hazard" outside an NHS hospital.

Lorna Loxton, age 55, formerly of Wells and a former auxiliary nurse, had a fall while leaving University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust's facility during a cardiology appointment.

Her walking frame got caught in a protruding metal flap covering a bollard outside the hospital's Level 5 entrance, she tripped, broke her hip and hit her head.

She underwent hip surgery but her condition worsened, and she died on 28 January—three weeks after the fall. A formal cause of death has yet to be established and an inquest is pending.

An internal health and safety investigation by the trust found the estates and facilities team had not been monitoring the bollard posts and no risk assessment had been carried out. The report noted the angle of the metal flap created a "trip hazard".

Lorna is survived by her daughter Danni (30) and son Mark (35). She had lived with the genetic condition myotonic dystrophy for many years. Danni said her mother had been a loving animal‑lover, caring for three dogs and previously riding horses, despite her illness.

Danni added she felt the family were not fully kept informed of Lorna's deteriorating condition, saying she had been told her mother was "fine" while arriving to find her connected to machines. She described the loss and subsequent handling of her mother's care as "absolutely traumatic".

The family, supported by law‑firm Slater and Gordon LLP, say they now seek answers from the hospital trust about the environment in which Lorna fell. Senior Associate Samantha Griffiths said the incident was "absolutely tragic" and questioned the safety of mobility‑aid users in hospital exits.

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