THE family of a mother-of-two who died from septicemia a month after an operation, says they are taking action against the Royal Bolton Hospital.

The family reacted angrily to the verdict at a Bolton inquest yesterday that Mrs Jennifer Street died from natural causes.

And they claim her treatment in hospital was "abysmal."

But in recording his verdict, deputy coroner, Mr Bill Swalwell, admitted that while the family were concerned about Mrs Street's treatment in hospital, he added: "That is a different matter for another place. I have to consider the cause of death."

Mrs Street, aged 56, of Kielder Mews, Bolton, died on July 20 last year - nearly a month after major bowel surgery.

Her husband David told the inquest that he had been assured the operation carried a 95 pc success rate and that his wife, who was at the top end of the fitness scale, could be out of hospital after seven to 10 days.

In a statement, Mr Street listed a catalogue of minor complaints during his wife's stay on E3 Ward at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

These included having to constantly cover up his wife because she complained she was cold; failing to get nurses to bring food for his wife and on one occasion having to complain because urine, caused by another patient, had not been cleaned up next to his wife's bed.

Mr Street told consultant, Mr Hamish Michie: "From the day she went in hospital, everything was abysmal."

The inquest heard how Mr Michie carried out the original surgery on Mrs Street but left on holiday leaving her care to fellow surgeon Mr John Hobbis.

Mr Michie told the deputy coroner that septic complications were every surgeon's biggest fear but said it was very difficult to tell whether a patient was pre-disposed to the blood poisoning condition.

Mr Hobbis said that despite constant checks on Mrs Street, including blood tests and x-rays, she showed no signs of septicemia or no mechanical obstruction.

But on July 18, Mrs Street underwent emergency surgery for peritonitis which revealed an overwhelming infection.

On July 19, Mr Michie returned from private consultancy at the Beaumont Hospital to carry out further surgery on Mrs Street.

But Mrs Street, a former receptionist, died 24 hours later from septicaemia.

Mr Swalwell said: "I realise that there will always be a dispute about what the family say and what Mr Hobbis said.

" But going off the evidence I have, it is as a result of these complications that she died."

The family were too upset to discuss the verdict afterwards but they did indicate they would be taking legal action against the hospital.

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