A PENSIONER died a month after breaking her hip in a fall at Christmas.

Menna Jones, who was 86, of Bala died at Wrexham Maelor Hospital on January 25, an inquest heard.

Mrs Jones' daughter, Anna Roberts, told the Ruthin hearing that her mother suffered from COPD lung disease and heart failure and was on a range of medication including warfarin.

She was "vulnerable and fragile" and had suffered a number of falls.

She was prone to losing her balance without using a Zimmer frame after having her hip pinned previously.

Mrs Jones was visited three times a day by her daughter but her family were alerted by Careline when she fell on Christmas Eve while she was walking in her front room at her home in Mount Street, Bala.

The pensioner hit her head on the floor and injured her hip.

A scan showed she had suffered a fracture of the femur and she was admitted to the Maelor.

But she complained of a persistent back pain after undergoing surgery and the medics told her family that the prognosis was poor because of a number of health complications.

Mrs Jones' condition deteriorated after January 18.

The cause of death was stated as respiratory failure along with COPD and heart failure.

Her age and the fall were also contributory factors.

"She had been looking forward to seeing her granddaughter and great granddaughter at Christmas," said Mrs Roberts.

"She loved family company and watching the snooker on TV."

David Pojur, assistant coroner for North Wales (East and Central), concluded Mrs Jones died as a result of a fall and noted: "There were very long periods of admission to hospital."