The family of a Kurdish refugee sent home from Barnet Hospital who died just hours later from a rare throat infection received £390,000 damages at the High Court this week.

Barnet, along with North Middlesex Hospital, issued an "unreserved apology" to the family of Ahmet Yardim on Tuesday for its role in "serial failures" which saw him discharged from the hospitals within the space of a few hours.

He was given no more than painkillers and antibiotics which he could not swallow and later died of suffocation caused by the infection epiglottitis.

Paul Rees QC, representing the hospitals, said: "I cannot turn back the clock but I can give an unreserved apology."

The court heard how Mr Yardim, a father of four from Tottenham, had difficulty swallowing and breathing on August 31, 1996. He was eventually taken to Barnet Hospital but was discharged and went home by bus.

After arriving home, he was still suffering breathing difficulties and was taken to North Middlesex Hospital. However, he was sent home suffering from supposed anxiety and a virus.

He returned to Barnet Hospital at 5.30am the next day and was kept in hospital for six hours but again sent home with a prescription for antibiotics he could not swallow.

On the evening of September 1 Mr Yardim collapsed in his garden. An ambulance was called and paramedics' attempts to revive him were witnessed by his horrified family. He was declared dead within minutes of arriving at North Middlesex Hospital.

Mr Justice Newman said: "It is a case that discloses almost a serial degree of failure to diagnose the condition."

November 21, 2001 18:33