A GRIEVING family are still seeking an apology from Bury health chiefs more than three years after the death of their teenage son.

Doctors at the former Bury General Hospital failed to diagnose 18 fractures, including 16 broken ribs, when 19-year-old Nicholas Hitchen was severely injured in a road accident on June 14, 2001.

On Monday, parents Christine and Kevin Hitchen, of Whittingham Drive, Ramsbottom, revealed a settlement had been reached for undisclosed damages, plus costs, from Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

But they say they still have not received a proper apology for the errors -- a claim denied by the Trust.

Mrs Hitchen said: "Their failure even to say sorry for their actions only increases the hurt and frustration we feel and which we know will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

"We watched our son die because nobody at the hospital had thought to check whether he had broken anything."

The youngster, who would have celebrated his 23rd birthday on Sunday was driving his car along Crostons Road in Bury when he lost control of the vehicle and collided with metal railings. He was taken to Bury General Hospital in a stable and conscious condition, but complaining of severe chest pains.

He was admitted to the accident and emergency department where three X-rays were taken, but his injuries were not detected and he died a few hours later, following a rapid deterioration in his condition.

The subsequent post mortem revealed that he had 16 fractured ribs, a fractured sternum and fractured clavicle.

Mrs Hitchen added: "We now know that, in fact, he had suffered 18 fractures, and the hospital admits that. Yet they still haven't had the decency to apologise.

"We relive this nightmare every day. Nick needed an urgent operation to give him at least a chance of life, but it couldn't be done as they did not have a doctor or facilities available to carry out the operation. If only Nicholas had been transferred to a suitable hospital our son might still be here today."

In a statement from the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, medical director Dr Roger Glew insisted the Trust had apologised.

He added, however: "The Independent Review Panel considered that it was unlikely that surgery at any stage would have made a difference with the outcome for Nicholas."

He added: "The chief executive of the Trust sent a letter of apology to the family following settlement of the claim. I wish to reaffirm that apology and reassure them, and the public of Bury, that lessons have been learned."

Mrs Hitchen said the only letter they had received from the Trust was one offering their condolences. "This is not an apology.