NEGLECT contributed to the death of a Redditch mum-of-four who died at the Alexandra Hospital, an inquest heard.

Worcestershire Coroner Victor Round recorded a verdict of 'natural causes to which neglect contributed' following the death of 45-year-old Janet Price, who died on November 11, 2000.

A statement from law firm Irwin Mitchell, representing the Price family, stated Mrs Price was admitted to the A&E department on October 30, 2000, complaining of abdominal pain and excessive vomiting.

After being assessed she was left on a trolley for 10 and a half hours before being transferred to a surgical ward where she became dehydrated.

At 10pm that evening, she suffered a cardiac and respiratory arrest and transferred to intensive care.

Mrs Price went to theatre the following day for bowel surgery to alleviate her condition but she suffered irreversible brain damage, her condition deteriorated and she died.

Mrs Price's husband, Haydon, said: "This verdict shows that the lack of care the hospital gave Janet contributed to her death. It underpins my belief her death was avoidable."

Julie Lewis, of Irwin Mitchell, said: "Nothing can repair the damage done to the Price family by the untimely loss of a wife and mother but this verdict does at last show that the Price family was right in complaining about the lack of care Mrs Price was given.

"The family now needs assuring the mistakes made will not be repeated, the NHS will properly investigate the incident and that lessons will be learned.

"The hospital has apologised for shortcomings in care and has settled compensation following a claim brought on behalf of the Price family.

"They have also said they will take steps to ensure that this won't happen to anyone else but we haven't been given any details and, until the inquest, the hospital disputed the actual cause of death."

A trust spokesman said: "We have investigated Mrs Price's case thoroughly and have apologised for the shortcomings in the care she received. We have agreed a settlement with Mr Price.

"Working practices have changed significantly since 2000 and there are now a number of safeguards in place to reduce the chances of a similar situation occurring."