An inquest has ruled that a man who died after being placed on an end-of-life care pathway received “appropriate” treatment.

Robert Goold, 69, of Stevenage, died in February last year after being placed on the controversial Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

The 69-year-old was initially taken to Lister Hospital in Stevenage following a fall which injured his neck, back and skull.

When a bleed on his brain was discovered, he was transferred to the neurosciences critical care unit (NCCU) at Addenbrooke’s Hospital on February 3.

He died on February 25, eight days after being placed on the LCP. His family was not consulted about the decision to place him on the pathway.

In his report, coroner David Morris wrote: “I am satisfied that the clinical decisions as to the diagnosis and treatment were at all times appropriate from the evidence available at the time.

“Mr Goold died from the consequences of his injuries sustained which, given their extent and his advanced Alzheimer’s disease, resulted in a valid clinical decision to instigate the LCP.

“I have found no evidence of any gross failure on the part of any individual or organisation which merits a different conclusion.”

Mr Morris stated that his family should have been formally consulted on the decision but that this was not a gross failure, as “it did not affect the outcome or what followed that decision”.