THE WIFE of a man who died of a lung condition has slammed a hospital’s treatment of him.

John Turner died, aged 71, in the early hours of Friday at Royal Blackburn Hospital after an 11-year battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Now his distraught wife of 21 years Karen Turner has said that although staff were ‘fantastic’ with her husband she has concerns about aspects of his care.

She said this included a 13-hour wait on a trolley in the hospital’s A&E that Mr Turner had to endure at the end of last year.

Mrs Turner also says that the hospital issued a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ order without her knowing in 2017.

While she also claims she had to wait until the Monday after Mr Turner died to see her husband in the hospital’s mortuary as it wasn’t open.

Mrs Turner, of Willow Trees Drive, Lammack, Blackburn, said: “Pre-Christmas in 2018, my husband had to wait to 13 hours in A&E in a corridor on a trolley.

“He had breathing problems because of his COPD and couldn’t sit up and his feet were swelling so he had to lie down for 13 hours until he was finally seen in the respiratory unit.

“While in 2017 after another time he was discharged, I was handed a purple Do Not Resuscitate form.

“I had no idea about this and wasn’t informed which I think is unacceptable.

“Then after John died, I wanted to see John in the afternoon in the mortuary but I was told they closed at 4pm on Friday and weren’t open over the weekend either, so I had to wait until the Monday to see him.

She added: “I want to get across though that the care John received was fantastic from staff at the hospital.”

Mrs Turner said she will be complaining to the hospital about the mortuary.

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A fundraising page has now been set-up by Mr Turner’s granddaughter Abbie Turner to raise money for the cost of his funeral, which has raised £2,635 out of £4,000 needed.

Mr Turner’s funeral takes place at 10am on Wednesday, February 27 at Pleasington Crematorium.

People can donate money by visiting gofundme.com and search for John Turner’s Funeral.

Professor Damian Riley, medical director for East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, said: “The trust extends its sincere condolences to Mr Turner’s family and friends at this very difficult time for them.

“While patient confidentiality prevents us from commenting on individual cases, we would ask Mrs Turner to contact our trust customer relations team if she has concerns or questions about any aspect of her husband’s care.”