QUESTIONS were raised over staffing levels at residential homes during an inquest on Friday on a 98-year-old woman who died at a Perranporth care home.

During the Truro inquest of Alix Simmons, Truro coroner Dr Emma Carlyon said that lessons could be learnt from the case.

An inspector of care homes told the coroner he felt the staffing levels in homes generally were too low. It often led to staff rushing around.

Dr Carlyon said: "I think there has been quite a lot of learning on this point. Sometimes people are put in positions that they can't do anything about even if they might like to. We're actually looking at a bigger picture." Miss Simmons had been living at Sunningdale House in Perranporth, which caters for 36 residents. She had been there for a number of years and had a history of dementia and found it difficult to walk, mainly using a wheelchair, the inquest was told.

(Full story in this week's Packet