THE widow of an MRSA victim is suing hospital bosses for alleged medical negligence over her husband's death.

Carole Anne Short, of Zion Road, Blackburn, has launched proceedings against the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

David Short, died from the superbug at Blackburn's Queen's Park Hospital on June 27. The cause of death was recorded as MRSA bronchopneumonia with septicaemia.

His condition deteriorated after he was first admitted to Blackburn Royal Infirmary on January 18 for a routine operation for ulcerative colitis - a disease that causes ulcers in the large intestine.

At the time, Mrs Short said that she watched her 61-year-old husband being reduced from a fit and active man to someone who was bed-ridden and depressed.

She added that she had concerns over the care her husband received during his stay on ward B6 at Queen's Park and voiced her opinions on the cleanliness and hygiene standards of the ward.

The legal action has prompted the adjournment of the inquest into Mr Short's death.

Mrs Short declined to comment but today her late husband's sons, David junior and Frank, and brother Martin Ravenscroft claimed the move would delay "putting his memory to rest."

Mr Ravenscroft, of Zion Road, added: "We just want to make sure that we have done our best to highlight problems of MRSA and will work with the Trust in anyway that can help stop the spread of it.

"We want nothing to do with any legal proceedings against the hospital."

In July, an 87-year-old woman who was left disabled and in pain after catching MRSA in a South Wales hospital won compensation from the NHS in a landmark case.

Kitty Cope was awarded an £11,000 settlement after she sued under health and safety laws, claiming that the Trust had not followed its own infection control procedures.

Jo Cubbon, chief executive of the Trust said that she was unable to comment on the legal claim and added: "Mrs Short has asked that the Trust does not make any comment to the press regarding the care of her late husband and we must respect her wishes as Mr Short's immediate next of kin."

A spokesman for Action Against Medical Accidents, an independent charity which promotes better patient safety and justice for people who have been affected by medical accidents, said: "Traditionally it has been very hard for people to get access to justice but if cases like this are brought then it could mean access to justice and compensation for many more people."