A WOMAN who fell ill after an endoscope examination at Burnley General Hospital died of natural causes, an inquest was told.

Acting East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor heard doctors at the hospital decided to admit Jean Stopforth, 72, of Knotts Lane, Colne, for an examination after blood tests on her liver showed abnormalities and a scan revealed a dilation of a tube which drains liquid away from the liver.

Dr Alexander Green, a consultant physician at Burnley General, told the inquest this was the usual course of action and that had been agreed by the patient. Dr Green also told the inquest that there are risks associated with the procedure which involves a patient swallowing a flexible tube with a camera attached.

"During the procedure a dye is secreted into the pancreas as well as the bile duct. It is usual to do that because it helps to identify the problems there," Dr Green explained.

"There is about a five per cent chance you will cause an acute inflammation of the pancreas. It tends to be relatively mild condition, but it can occasionally become a severe and lethal condition," he added.

Less than 12 hours after undergoing the examination Mrs Stopforth was taken ill. She was treated at the hospital and given antibiotics.

However, her condition deteriorated and she was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital.

Dr Green said, her condition worsened within 48 hours and she later died on May 26.

Recording a verdict of death from natural causes, Mr Taylor said: "If a procedure is undertaken that is necessary and there is a complication that is foreseeable, but hopefully unlikely, then that can be a wholly natural cause."