A HEART-BROKEN family have spoken out over the 'distress' they have suffered after series of blunders by Warrington Hospital were uncovered during the care of their beloved grandma.

An inquest into the death of 83-year-old Catherine Timmins from Burtonwood on Monday at Warrington Coroner's Court revealed that a number of mistakes had been made by members of staff at the hospital on Lovely Lane.

Solicitor Bethan Parry, who represented the family during the inquest, said it was ‘concerning’ to learn that risk assessments were missed and that Mrs Timmins did not receive appropriate medication.

Although the assistant deputy coroner Janet Napier concluded that Mrs Timmins died from natural causes on September 19, 2013, her daughter, Ann McGuire, from Burtonwood, described the findings at a 'bitter pill to swallow'.

She said: "Our mum was a wonderful lady who lived her life to the full and was the heart of our family. Her tragic death has left a hole that cannot be filled.

"But to learn of the shortcomings in her care that basic and fundamental assessments were not carried out, has only added to our distress and sense of loss.

"To think that something different ought to have been done is a very bitter pill to swallow."

The coroner's court heard how Mrs Timmins, a retired landlady, had been taken to the hospital on September 17, 2013, by her son, Anthony Timmins, after her health had deteriorated and she was struggling to breathe.

She was treated at the hospital for an infection and, during her three day stint, she had started to improve.

But on September 19, 2013, she suddenly collapsed and died at the hospital after suffering from a cardiac arrest.

A post-mortem revealed that this was caused by blood clot, which had gone unnoticed by hospital staff.

Although the Dr Napier said the mistakes that were made, which were down to human error, did not lead to the death of Mrs Timmins, Mrs McGuire said the finding were still worrying.

She added: "As a family, we can only hope that lessons have been learnt by the hospital and staff involved so that other families have a better experience in the future."

A spokesman for the hospital said: "Although the coroner recorded a verdict of death by natural causes and noted that the VTE assessment would not have made a difference to the outcome, we have fully investigated the care provided and ways that we can improve our communication on VTE assessments.”

Catherine Timmins was described as 'full of life' by her family