THE family of a retired Army officer, who lay in agony for at least six hours after falling from his hospital bed, are demanding a full inquiry.

Major Harold Lewis died just days after he broke his hip and suffered a head injury in the incident at York District Hospital.

He was helped by staff after he fell from his bed at about 2am last Wednesday, but furious relatives claim that it was not until a ward sister came on duty at 8am that the extent of his injuries was discovered.

Major Lewis, 91, of Dunnington, York, was then given extra pain relief, but died on Friday morning.

His son, Peter, said: "He was in a single room and we don't know why he fell. The nurses heard him and they helped him back into bed and recorded the incident. But when the sister came up in the morning and gave him a bed bath she noticed that he was quiet and vacant and thought it was shock. When she saw his hip she realised it was pain.

"The care at York was absolutely superb. Up to the incident and beyond for the last few days we can say that it was the best. But we want to know why a 21-person ward was being looked after by a nurse and an auxiliary and why a doctor wasn't called when an elderly patient had fallen."

The death of Major Lewis, who had been at the hospital for several weeks, was reported to the York coroner.

A post-mortem examination will take place today, after which the family will make a written complaint to the hospital.

A spokesman for York Health Services NHS Trust said: "We would like to extend every sympathy to the family of Major Lewis at this very sad time. This matter has been referred to the coroner and in those circumstances it would inappropriate to comment further on this case prior to the inquest hearing."