THE inquest into the death of James Paton who died in agony after catching the killer MRSA 'super bug' at Wycombe Hospital found he died from natural causes.

But jurors at the High Wycombe inquest did include "hospital acquired" MRSA in Mr Paton's official cause of death.

Over three days of complex medical evidence which began on Tuesday (Feb 5), doctors and infection experts told jurors the 69-year-old contracted MRSA after a life-saving operation to a burst stomach ulcer.

It is thought Mr Paton, who died on March 26, 2000, was most likely infected through a drip tube inserted in his neck.

Mr Paton's widow, Pauline, supported by her four sons, claimed shortfalls in hygiene, staff training and basic patient care contributed to her husband's death.

However, micro-biologists employed by the South Bucks NHS Trust, which runs Wycombe Hospital, and leading infections expert, Professor Gary French, said the conditions and treatment described would not have made any difference to Mr Paton's outcome.

Prof French, who said he believed Mr Paton was well cared for at Wycombe, added that the presence of MRSA had become a fact of life in hospitals across the UK and the world.

Buckinghamshire Coroner Richard Hulett said MRSA had become "a natural feature of life" and so the inquest verdict could only be one of natural causes.

The official cause of death stated Mr Paton died from a stroke due to blood poisoning, hospital acquired MRSA and infection from abscesses all following an operated burst stomach ulcer .

Martin Leaver, spokesman for the South Bucks NHS Trust, said: "The trust takes the issue of infection control extremely seriously. All clinical staff are encouraged to use good infection control with every patient to combat all forms of micro-organisms including MRSA. Measures to achieve this include; good hand hygiene, wearing of gloves and aprons where necessary, isolation of patients if they are found to be potentially infectious, alcohol hand gel has started to be introduced at the end of every bed.

"The trust has an MRSA policy written in accordance with national guidance on MRSA. All patients with MRSA are given an information leaflet. The national MRSA date published today (Feb 8) shows the trusts performance to be in line with most of the NHS."

See the full story entitled "Widow hits out at hospital care" in the Bucks Free Press or on this site.

Also see next week's Midweek for full reactions

February 14, 2002 13:38