Despite a six-year police investigation, no-one has ever been charged with her attack.
At the time of Mrs Kneale’s death, Mr Pover was a senior nurse working in the stroke unit and part of the team who looked after her.
He told the inquest at Blackpool and Fylde Coroner’s Court that when she first arrived on 12 November she had been alert and able to communicate.
Mrs Kneale was asked about a statement given to police in 2019 when he said he could not see when the injuries to Mrs Kneale could have been sustained.
“I think this was just an expression of disbelief,” he said.
Mr Pover was also asked about an exchange with a health care assistant who had been asked to clean Mrs Kneale’s body shortly after her death.
He said she had told him there was a large amount of blood on the bed which was “too much for someone to deal with”, and had asked for assistance.
Another health care assistant then went to help her, the court heard.
Gareth Thompson, representing Mrs Kneale’s family, asked Mr Pover why he had not raised the matter with anyone else, saying: “The nurse brought concerns to you. Why didn’t you do your job and react to those concerns?”
Mr Pover said he honestly did not know.
He told the inquest that he thought he had underestimated the seriousness of the situation.
“I don’t think I computed it as blood,” he said.
Mr Pover also said the health care assistant had not appeared “overly upset” about the situation and so he did not appreciate the urgency.