A HEREFORDSHIRE man died in the county hospital just eight days after having an emergency bowel operation, an inquest heard.

However, despite concerns raised by his family, coroner David Halpern said the death of Robert Mackie from Yarkhill was not related in any way to the operation or the care he received while in Hereford County Hospital.

Dr Geoffrey Smith, a pathologist at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, said Mr Mackie died from cardio-respiratory failure caused by acute peritonitis and ischaemic enteritis on May 10, 2002.

Mr Mackie, aged 58, was originally admitted to hospital on May 2, after suffering from abdominal pains.

After initially responding well to the operation, his condition soon deteriorated and he died on May 10.

Speaking independently on the case, Mr Stanley Silverman, a consultant surgeon from the Birmingham Nuffield Hospital, said: "The first operation was successful and appropriate and was not a significant factor with what happened later. The nursing car, whether inadequate or not, would have made no difference at all."

Despite the evidence given from the doctors, coroner David Halpern recorded an open verdict after it was revealed that radiotherapy given to Mr Mackie in 1968 to treat testicular cancer could have caused the blockages in the arteries, which eventually proved fatal.