A PENSIONER from Bexleyheath died following a major operation when hospital staff failed to notice she had an infection, an inquest heard.

Irene Foster of Mera Drive suffered constant nausea and pain from a hidden abscess after having part of her bowel removed in an operation last December.

The 82-year-old had been admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich with stomach pains last October.

She was treated for gastrointestinal disease diverticulitis, a disease of the intestine, and doctors assumed she was taking a while to recover.

Mrs Foster was moved to a step down rehabilitation unit at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

The inquest heard nurses at the unit failed to carry out some of her doctor’s instructions, including advice to take regular blood pressure readings.

She died back at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on February 22 when the infection had spread to her lungs.

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the step down unit at Queen Mary’s, undertook an investigation into the way Mrs Foster was treated.

Giving evidence, Mrs Foster's son, Martin, said the family had been “very surprised” when she was transferred to the unit.

He said: “Every time I spoke to my mum she told me she didn't feel well and even as a layman I could see she was too ill when she couldn't even stand.

“If the care had been delivered properly she wouldn't have gone to Sidcup – we all feel that was the switching moment when she started to deteriorate.”

Deputy coroner Dr Adela Williams recorded a verdict of death from complications of a necessary treatment at Southwark Coroner's Court on September 1.

She said it was not her place to make judgements about medical negligence.

A spokesman for Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our investigation found a high standard of care had been maintained, but found regular blood pressure monitoring had not always been maintained and an opportunity to refer the patient back to hospital earlier had been missed.

“The coroner concluded neither of these contributed in any way to the patient’s death.”