A Bristol woman with mental health problems was kneeling down and wedged between her bed rail and her mattress when she was found dead, an inquest heard.

Sheila Buchan, 67, was a resident at the Priory Grange in Stapleton when she was discovered by a member of staff in her room early on October 18, 2007.

A jury at an inquest at Flax Bourton Coroner's Court heard that mother-of-four Mrs Buchan had been a resident at the Priory since August 2006 after being admitted under the Mental Health Act.

The inquest heard that Mrs Buchan suffered from Huntington's disease.

Coroner Brian Whitehead heard that bed rails and "bumpers" were fixed to Mrs Buchan's bed to stop her falling out when she made involuntary movements while asleep.

Healthcare assistant Jane Peters told the hearing she found widow Mrs Buchan kneeling by the side of her bed wedged between the mattress and bottom part of the bed rail, with her arms and upper body on the mattress, at 6.30am on October 18, 2007, while making hourly checks.

She said she had checked on Mrs Buchan at 3am, 4am and 5am and found her asleep but restless and also noticed her moving around in her bed when she walked past her room at 5.20am.

Pathologist Ed Sheffield said Mrs Buchan had died of heart failure and added that pneumonia and Huntington's disease had contributed. But he said that the fact Mrs Buchan had been wedged between the bed rail and the mattress had not contributed towards her death.

Mrs Buchan's daughter Denisetold the inquest she had held concerns about the care her mother received at the Priory Grange.

The inquest is expected to conclude today.