A SURGEON apologised to a grieving daughter for an unprofessional remark allegedly made by a hospital doctor.

Susan Heys told an inquest at Burnley that when a nurse asked a doctor to see her seriously ill mother he replied: "Do you think I can make her better by looking at her?"

She added: "I didn't find it funny."

Her mother, Doris Hardman, died after a delayed operation to repair a fracture of the neck of the femur caused by a fall at Lower Ridge home for the elderly.

Referring to delays in carrying out the operation Mrs Heys of Gainsborough Avenue, Burnley, told acting East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor: "I feel strongly there was no continuity in her care. The left hand didn't seem to know what the right hand was doing."

Mrs Hardman, 79, was admitted to hospital on June 3. An operation was performed successfully on June 15. Mrs Hardman died from broncho pneumonia on June 24.

Surgeon Mr AM Dedat said Mrs Hardman, 79, suffered a head injury and a fractured femur in the fall.

She needed at least 24 hours observation for the head injury. "I knew she needed to go to surgery but it was not suitable at that moment," said Mr Dedat.

On two occasions she was included on the trauma list but was low down in the order and the operation was not carried out because there was no time. On another occasion she was not fit to have an anaesthetic and her case was then passed on to the physicians.

The operation was again delayed because there was no bed available for her.

He was concerned that the operation should be carried out to give her the best chance of life. It went ahead on June 15.

Mr Dedat said Mrs Hardman was seen frequently and given as much care as possible in the current climate.

He apologised to Mrs Heys for the allegedly unprofessional remark made by another doctor who had since left the area.

Pathologist Dr William Lawler said the operation was technically successful. Cause of death was broncho pneumonia.

Mrs Heys' other problems made her susceptible to that well recognised complication.

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes Mr Taylor said Mrs Hardman suffered from brittle bones and that she died from broncho pneumonia following the fall.

After the inquest Mrs Heys said she was still critical of the hospital but not of any individual except for the doctor who made the remark and who no longer worked there.

She did not intend to take any further action.