A Downham man claims he nearly died after Lewisham Hospital missed his condition which resulted in an operation to drain two litres of fluid from his heart.

Darren Dickenson, of Haddington Road, who returned to work as a Community Police Officer this week, attended Lewisham Hospital complaining of stomach pain in April.

But after an ECG, blood test and ultrasound scan the 43-year-old was told he had an enlarged heart, hepatitis and liver damage caused by antibiotics prescribed by his GP.

While under the care of Lewisham Hospital staff Mr Dickenson was discharged six days later with no medication despite being short of breath and claims there was no mention of his enlarged heart upon leaving the hospital.

But twelve days later his 52-year-old partner Maria Bentley-Dingwall called an ambulance at 4am to take Mr Dickenson to St Georges Hospital, Tooting, where he was told he had to have an emergency operation to drain two litres of fluid from his heart.

Mr Dickenson said: “The whole experience has really frightened to me to be honest and has sent shivers right down my back. If my condition was left any longer my heart would have just collapsed.

“I just cannot understand why Lewisham Hospital didn’t do anything. The doctors at St George’s said they must have noticed my heart was enlarged. I was having symptoms similar to a heart attack.”

Mr Dickenson, who plans to take legal action against Lewisham Hospital, was put on oxygen after the procedure and has his blood levels and temperature checked hourly.

He added: “I was totally disgusted that the staff failed to investigate and treat my heart condition despite the fact that they knew my heart was enlarged from the time I was admitted.

“I was informed by the cardiac team at St George’s that I was a very lucky man to survive as I could have died and that the doctors at Lewisham Hospital should have spotted the fluid around my heart two weeks ago.

A spokesperson for Lewisham Hospital said: “Providing a high standard of care and treatment to the community we serve is our highest priority and we are disappointed if one of our patients feels that we have failed to achieve this.

“Following a formal complaint by Mr Dickenson, a full investigation was carried out into the care he received when he was an inpatient at Lewisham Hospital.

“Our Chief Executive has written to Mr Dickenson with the findings of this investigation which indicate that the future illness he went on to experience could not have been foreseen while he was an inpatient.

“If Mr Dickenson has any concerns about the findings of this investigation, we would be happy to discuss these with him and work with him to achieve a resolution that he is satisfied with.”