A NURSES' leader believes patients are dying unnecessarily due to pressure on overworked hospital staff.

Beverly Malone, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, was speaking after a West Midland hospital admitted responsibility for the death of an elderly man who suffered dehydration in a ward when he went 12 days without being given water.

Her comments came days after North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle recorded a verdict of "misadventure, contributed to by neglect" on the death of a woman found unconscious in a side room in the accident and emergency department of the University Hospital of North Durham, an hour after being admitted with an overdose.

Mr Tweddle said on Friday, the death in January of Maureen Matla, 47, of Tantobie, near Stanley, could have been avoided if she had received prompt basic medical attention.

He quoted a health expert who said such a death was "almost inevitable" given the pressure on staff on the busiest night in memory, in the department.

Ms Malone said such incidents were "symptomatic" of a system where stretched resources and staff led to nurses having to pick and choose which patients they can give their full attention.

Errors were going to occur, in that situation, she said.

Ms Malone called for nurses to be allowed to become "whistle blowers" so they could report unsafe conditions and malpractice without fear of losing their jobs.