Widow fights accidental death verdict

Mr Walsh died three months after surgery in Cheltenham

The widow of a cancer patient who died three months after being left on an operating table as surgeons awaited equipment, has vowed to fight a coroner's verdict of accidental death.

John Walsh, of Cirencester, Gloucestershire, died following cancer surgery at Cheltenham General Hospital in November 2001.

An inquest in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, heard how Mr Walsh waited under anaesthetic for two hours while a special staple gun was brought from Bristol - a journey of 40 miles.

A tube was being inserted into the 58-year-old's small intestine to join the end of the stomach to the oesophagus.

I'm going to seek advice from my solicitor and take it up with the General Medical Council

Gail Walsh, widow

But the hospital did not have the right-sized staple gun in stock.

The hearing heard the delay meant the operation was two-and-a-half hours, instead of 30 minutes.

After the procedure, his wound started leaking and he contracted an infection.

Despite a second operation, Mr Walsh died three months later following a series of complications and illnesses.

Delivering his verdict of accidental death on Wednesday, coroner Lester Maddrell said it was "impossible" to say whether the delay in the operating procedure had led to subsequent complications.

He said although the lack of the right-sized staple gun was an oversight, he did not believe that Mr Walsh's death had been contributed to by a lack of care.

'Unbelievable ruling'

"Undoubtedly as the medical evidence shows, the delay did not help," he said.

Speaking after the resumed hearing, Mr Walsh's widow Gail, a nursing manager, said she found the coroner's ruling unbelievable.

"I'm absolutely gutted that the death of my husband has come out as an accident," she said.

'Professional incompetence'

Mrs Walsh said she was not told until 10 days after the procedure what had happened.

She said she had hoped for a finding of clinical negligence or professional incompetence.

"I'm going to seek advice from my solicitor and I'm going to take it up with the General Medical Council," she said.