Phyllis Harvey (73), of Rainworth, died at the Sutton hospital in November last year –– two months after undergoing surgery on her bowels, which had been perforated by a tumour.

The operation was a success but in the weeks after she became increasingly frail and suffered from severe bed sores and lack of nutrients.

Her devastated husband Peter had always maintained her death was avoidable and due to 'medical negligence and lack in the duty of care.'

'Too late'

And this week he and his family received an apology from King's Mill bosses after their complaints were upheld by the Healthcare Commission –– but he says it is too late for them to say sorry.

"I am pleased with the Healthcare Commission's report and that it has recommended the hospital review its procedures, but the apology from King's Mill Hospital has come too late," he said.

"Phyllis' initial operation was a success and I am grateful to the hospital for that, but her aftercare was poor and ultimately led to her death.

"After the operation, Phyllis felt so sick she could not eat but the hospital would not intense feed her when I suggested it –– so she was left to get weaker.

"Phyllis developed serious bed sores, which were down to the bone, and was still being prescribed blood pressure reducing drugs when her blood pressure was worryingly low.

"All of this made Phyllis so weak that she could not undergo any operations to improve her condition and therefore led to her death."

He says there are still questions unanswered by King's Mill about his wife's treatment –– especially her nutrition, and he has called for a health regulator to be set up where hospital bosses could be fined for medical negligence.

"I have written to (Prime Minister) Gordon Brown calling for a health regulator to be set up that has powers to make hospitals take action, rather than just recommend it ,and possibly even fine hospitals for medical negligence," he said.

"I am not doing this for financial gain but to protect others from going through what myself and my family have gone through.

"I loved my wife with all the love in the world and I break down most days thinking of what Phyllis suffered unnecessarily."

'Mistakes'

Sherwood Forest NHS Foundation Trust –– which runs King's Mill Hospital –– released a statement yesterday confirming that it had apologised to Phyllis' family.

Said chief executive Jeffrey Worrall: "We are very sorry for the standard of care that was given to Mrs Harvey and we will be apologising in writing to Mr Harvey for what happened.

"We have only just received the Healthcare Commission's report and will be studying it to see what we need to do differently in the future and learn from our mistakes."