A WIDOW'S legal action over her husband's death from MRSA has prevented his inquest going ahead and left her estranged family in "turmoil".

David Short, 61, of Zion Road, Blackburn, died after contracting MRSA during a routine operation for ulcerative colitis at Queen's Park Hospital on June 27 last year.

An inquest into his death was opened on June 30.

But despite calls from his brother, son and sister to have the inquest held then, the legal claim against the East Lancashire NHS Hospital's Trust by Mr Short's widow, Carol Anne, has delayed proceedings.

Mrs Short, of Zion Road, said at the time of her husband's death that she had concerns over the standard of care he had received on ward B6.

She said she had raised issues of cleanliness and hygiene with staff at the hospital.

Blackburn Coroner Michael Singleton yesterday revealed at a pre-inquest hearing that another pre-inquest hearing would be needed at the beginning of June to give Mrs Short's solicitor time to pass the case on to an independent expert.

If the legal action is to go ahead then he said he will hold the inquest with a jury and that could cause another six month delay.

Pre-inquest hearings have already been held on October 27 and November 30 last year and the coroner has taken expert guidance from a London-based professor of health care associated infections.

Mr Short's brother, Martin Ravenscroft, of Topaz Street, Blackburn, said: "Initially we were told that the full inquest would be heard on January 10 but now we have learnt it will be more than 12 months before we can put this matter to rest.

"We are in turmoil and just can't move on.

"It is upsetting every time we have to come down for a hearing. We just want the whole matter to be put to rest."

Mr Short's son, David Short junior of Carus Avenue, Hoddlesden, added: "We feel as if my dad's inquest is just dragging on." Mrs Short declined to comment.