A WIDOW who has waited 19 months for a hospital to provide the coroner with details of her husband’s death has criticised the delay.

Margaret Meek, from Darlington, believes that important lessons could be learnt from the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband, John, in The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.

Mr Meek, 68, had a successful kidney transplant at Newcastle Freeman Hospital in April 2008 and looked likely to make a full recovery.

But after being transferred to the Middlesbrough hospital, his condition deteriorated and he suffered a catalogue of complications.

Mr Meek contracted the fungal infection, aspergillus, which caused a brain abscess, resulting in loss of sight and loss of balance and, during his extended hospitalisation, he was infected with the superbug clostridium difficile which eventually caused his bowel to perforate. He died in January, last year.

Now his widow, frustrated at the length of time it has taken for the hospital to provide the information needed for a full inquest to take place, has appointed law firm Irwin Mitchell to investigate.

Mrs Meek said: “My husband’s death was as a result of a catalogue of unexpected complications, which I want to see investigated in public, so that lessons can be learnt for the future.

“He died 19 months ago, but we have not yet been given the inquest that would help to answer so many of the questions that we still have.

“John’s last few months were very traumatic and he died a painful and miserable death – his kidney transplant went well and there is every chance he would still be alive today had he not contracted aspergillus.

“He had no other medical problems, other than his kidney-related condition prior to being admitted to The James Cook University Hospital.

“Worse though is the likelihood that other patients may be suffering unnecessarily. I just hope other families do not have to go through what we have been through.”

South Tees Hospitals medical director, Professor Rob Wilson, said: “As a trust, we make every effort to cooperate and assist the coroner in whatever way we can and we will continue to do so.

“We fully understand that this has been a very distressing and upsetting time for Mrs Meek and the family and we hope the inquest will provide answers to the questions which have been raised.”