Carers at Potters Court have received extra training since a blind man fell to his death from his fourth floor flat, an inquest has been told. 

Communication between Mark Williams' family and Apex Prime Care wasn't "what it should have been", a manager admitted.

But since the tragic accident in 2021, a review has taken place and more training has been given to staff.

The 60-year-old, who was registered blind and had been diagnosed with lymphoma, was found dead below his balcony on November 9, 2021.

His daughters and former carers told his inquest multiple concerns were raised over his care, the fact he was on the fourth floor, and his medication being wrongly administered. 

The inquest previously heard Mr Williams had been taking cannabis oil and on one occasion, he drank oral morphine directly from the bottle.

Tracey Scott, regional manager for Apex, said she had passed on concerns about the floor Mr Williams was on to the council's housing team.

However, she said: "I think we can agree that during the process the communication between the family and Apex isn’t what it should have been."

Asked how safe the balcony is, she replied: "You’d have to be picked up and put over or stand on something and climb over or pull yourself over. It would take quite a bit of effort.

"We’ve got a client who’s deaf and blind on the second floor and manages very well.

"There’s different risks on the ground floor. There would have been other risks involved.

"It’s a massive building. (He) would have still required assistance. They do have a backdoor in their room (downstairs) where he could walk right the way around the building so it would have to be risk assessed again."

In a written statement read out at Winchester Coroner's Court, Potters Court manager Jamie Ward said Apex has "continued to make positive improvements" since the tragic accident.

Mr Ward did not work for Apex at the time, but since he joined, he said further checks and training have been carried out and no safeguarding concerns have been reported.

He told the inquest: "Refresher training has been delivered by the qualified training team of Apex Prime Care.

"Every year all care staff will complete professional training. Any concerns are reported to a manager, trainer or member of the senior team.

"Every staff member and manager joining Apex takes part in a robust induction process including shadowing."

He mentioned a revised documentation system and said all medication is delivered from the same pharmacy on the same day. 

He said: "Reporting and recording of concerns is a topic that is regularly discussed with care staff. The senior staff managers can action.

"We review the care need of each resident six weekly, six monthly, as required."