AN inquest has been held into the death of a Sandbach woman who died in excruciating pain at Leighton Hospital in August last year.

Jean Jepson, aged 57, of Princess Drive died on August 16, two days after an operation to improve her circulation.

The Coroners Court heard that Mrs Jepson suffered post-operative trauma and complications arising from a late diagnosis of severe arteriosclerosis which resulted in a gangrenous colon.

The family left the court satisfied that the final treatment received by Mrs Jespson could not have greatly prolonged the life of an already very ill woman, however, questions were raised as to why her condition wasn't picked up earlier.

Arthur Jepson, husband of Jean, said: "She was in pain for a number of years.

"The service seems very poor.

"I feel the system's falling down because we'd been to the hospital back and to and we were told one time that her records had been lost.

"The system is letting us down and in this day and age I think that's very poor."

Deputy Coroner for Cheshire Janet Napier recorded a narrative verdict and cited the cause of Mrs Jepson's death as a result of a combination of natural disease and a totally necessary surgical operation.