Coroner Roger Whittaker rejected evidence at an inquest into the death of retired debt collector Wanda 'Jenny' Murphy from a junior doctor and staff nurse who said the Dewsbury pensioner had discharged herself.

An inquest last month heard that Mrs Murphy, a widow from Brunswick Street, Westborough, cut short a trip to Malta in August last year so she could be treated in a British hospital when she began feeling unwell.

On August 13 she was taken to Dewsbury's accident and emergency department suffering from angina, abdominal discomfort, nausea, chronic bronchitis and an anxiety disorder – but in the early hours of the following morning she left in controversial circumstances.

She was seen by Dr Rohit Sinha, who thought she needed to be admitted, but instead, 78-year-old Mrs Murphy allegedly signed a self-discharge form and went home in a taxi.

She fell at home after leaving hospital and broke her neck. She died in hospital on September 1 after contracting bronchial pneumonia.

Her daughter, Fran Simpson, 47, claimed her mother was 'livid' about being sent home alone at 1am and when Mrs Murphy died following the fall, police were called to investigate. Mrs Simpson said the family suspected that her mum didn't sign her her own discharge form, but that it was forged by a third party.

Dr Sinha was interviewed at Batley police station after Mrs Simpson's claims that the signature on Mrs Murphy's discharge notice did not match up with her usual signature.

He was asked by police if he had 'panicked' after they began investigating offences involving forgery and misconduct following Mrs Murphy's death. He claimed the pensioner had indicated that she wanted to stay in hospital but then shortly afterwards became determined to leave. He denied any wrongdoing.

Senior staff nurse Nichola Royal was also interviewed by police. She was told by officers that Mrs Murphy's signature had been forged but denied any knowledge of who had signed the discharge document in the patient's name.

When the hearing was resumed at Bradford Coroner's Court on Monday, Mr Whittaker recorded a verdict of 'accidental death to which neglect contributed.'

He said: "I want to refer this case back to West Yorkshire Police. I think it is appropriate that they should look at it for perjury during this inquest."

He said he was satisfied after hearing evidence from a forensic science specialist that the signature was not written by Wanda Murphy. He agreed it had been countersigned by Dr Sinha.

He added: "I don't accept the evidence of Nichola Royal and Dr Sinha that she discharged herself.