Lessons must be learned say family in op tragedy

The devastated family of a retired school cook who died following a routine operation to remove her gall bladder said they hoped lessons would be learned following her death.

Their call came after an inquest into Patricia Franks, of Chasetown, Burntwood, recorded a narrative verdict, with the coroner identifying a failing in post-operative care.

Mother-of-two Mrs Franks was admitted to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield in February last year.

During the operation part of the blood supply to her liver was cut off and the 67-year-old died two days later.

The inquest at Birmingham Coroner's Court heard a portal vein, which connects the blood supply to the liver, had been damaged during the procedure.

Deputy coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe ruled that the retired school cook had died after suffering liver necrosis.

Ms Ormond-Walshe said there had been a failing that Mrs Franks had not been nursed on an intensive care unit or high dependency ward following surgery.

She added: "Although I do find there was a failure there, it wasn't gross."

The inquest heard that during the surgery, performed by trainee general surgeon Gopi Tripuraneni, a vein and an artery were torn, causing haemorrhaging. Mrs Franks died two days later on February 9 at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Franks' husband John said: "The last 13 months have been utter turmoil for me and my daughters.

"I'm now left a widower with our dreams in tatters and I'm looking for assurances from the hospital that they've made improvements in their training and supervision of staff."