THE heartbroken family of a Hartlebury pensioner who died after a routine hernia operation is hoping lessons will be learned following a five-figure payout from Worcestershire's hospitals trust.

Retired financial advisor Dorothy Moule died in October 2014 just days after undergoing a routine hernia surgery at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. A subsequent report into her death identified a number of failures in her care in the critical hours following what the family was told would be a simple procedure.

Four days after Dorothy's surgery, her husband Alfred received a call from the hospital to say her condition was deteriorating due to a blockage.

Alfred, 89, said: "Dorothy was in such a bad way, gasping for air and confused. There was also an awful smell in her room.

"Eventually she was taken to intensive care and we were told she had septicaemia and needed surgery, although there was a low chance of survival.”

Dorothy suffered a cardiac arrest shortly before the surgery and died just a few hours later. She leaves behind three children and nine grandchildren.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman later raised concerns in Dorothy's care, including failures to perform a CT scan of her abdomen or administer antibiotics. A report also identified failures to perform an intensive care review or perform emergency surgery.

It advised that Dorothy should have been taken back to theatre within six hours of her deterioration.

Alfred added: "It remains incredibly hard to think about the final days of Dorothy’s life, particularly when the investigations into her care found so many things went wrong.

“Dorothy was such a loving and caring person who would do anything for her family. She was taken from us far too soon and nothing will change what we have been through.

“Our family now just wants to ensure that others don’t have to suffer the pain we have and that the hospital learns from this.”

Medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, who were hired to investigate Dorothy's treatment, have since secured an admission of liability from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, as well as a five-figure settlement for the family.

Independent evidence obtained by the firm found that, had the appropriate investigations been carried out into Dorothy's condition, this would have led to surgery that could have saved the pensioner's life.

Specialist lawyer Ashley Cocker said: "This is a truly appalling case in which clinicians missed a number of opportunities to provide the right level of care to Dorothy.

“Dorothy attended hospital for routine surgery yet days later passed away and her family remain understandably devastated by the circumstances surrounding her death.

"While nothing will change what has happened, we are delighted to have helped them secure a settlement regarding these very serious failings. Lessons must be learned from this case.”

A spokesperson for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We would like to offer our sincerest condolences to Mrs Moule’s family.

“We’re pleased to see that a settlement has been reached that reflects the difficult situation that the family have been through.

“In line with our serious incidents policy, a full action plan was put in place following Mrs Moule’s death to ensure that lessons could be learned and shared within the trust."