A HUSBAND has spoken of his heartbreak after an inquest concluded failings at two hospitals took away his wife’s chance of survival.

Dorothy Wood, 73, from Barrow, died at Furness General Hospital on October 4, 2014 from an infection in her heart.

Mrs Wood’s husband, Rodger, said his wife “lit up the place” and was adored by her family.

A two-day inquest was held at Barrow Town Hall on Wednesday and yesterday, when Mr Robert Chapman, assistant coroner for Cumbria, recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

He gave a narrative conclusion and said: “Mrs Wood died an accidental death following a period of treatments at Wythenshawe Hospital and Furness General Hospital when either the risk of endocarditis was not recognised or was recognised too late for there to be any effective treatment provided that may have prolonged her life.

“Any possibility of survival was taken away when she was not given her flucloxacillin (antibiotic) for three days.”

Witnesses were called to provide evidence from both hospitals and it was established mistakes were made after Mrs Wood’s operation at Wythenshawe Hospital on September 18.

Mrs Wood had two artificial heart valves and this put her at a high risk of contracting bacterial endocarditis (an infection of the heart valves) if “she succumbed to an infection”.

It was established at Wythenshawe Hospital that she had an infection but a “breakdown in communication” between teams meant that endocarditis was not tested for. She was prescribed flucloxacillin for staphylococcus – an infection in her blood. At the inquest it was revealed that she had her last dose of flucloxacillin at 8.30am at Wythenshawe Hospital on September 26, 2014.

She wasn’t given any more of the antibiotic at Wythenshawe Hospital, even though her transfer to FGH wasn’t until 5pm. When she arrived at FGH at 10pm, she wasn’t seen by a doctor for nine-and-a-half hours, her medication wasn’t properly reviewed and the infection she was being treated for wasn’t picked up until Monday September 29, 2014.

Dr Gordon Williams, a consultant cardiologist from York, said: “Had the risk of endocarditis developing been recognised at Wythenshawe Hospital and appropriate treatment commenced straight away, then there would have been some rate of survival for Mrs Wood.”

A statement from Mr Wood said: “She worked as a telephonist at Furness General Hospital and was very well thought of by all who knew her. Although she had various medical problems, she didn’t let it get her down.

“The doctors and the staff in the hospital said she lit the place up when she came in and she always had a smile on her face no matter how she was feeling.

“Over the last 10 years she achieved her lifelong wish of becoming a grandmother six times over.

“She devoted her time and energy to her grandchildren and was always there for a kiss and a cuddle – she was adored by all members of the family.”