A FAMILY initially told that their much-loved mother and grandmother had died in her sleep is calling for a full disclosure of the facts after discovering she actually died after a cardiac arrest.

Maisie Ward was admitted to the University Hospital of North Durham on January 4, 2013, because of fluid retention and died in the early hours of January 11.

After requesting her medical records, Mrs Wards family discovered she had complained of chest pains and was given a heart scan shortly after midnight on the day she died.

More than four hours later a cardiac arrest 'crash team' was called to her bedside, but were unable to save her.

Mrs Ward's daughters - Christine McGovern and Lynn Ward, together with granddaughter Victoria McGovern - investigated further.

They found no-one had taken a blood sample the day before she died, despite concerns her blood was low in potassium - which plays a vital role in ensuring the heart functions properly.

Two days before Mrs Ward died - the last time a blood sample was taken - her records showed her potassium level was very low.

That day she became confused and had what nurses described as a 'rough night'. At 9.30pm doctors put her on a drug which enhances potassium.

Her family is convinced that if a doctor had taken a blood sample the following day, she might still be alive.

"She had all the symptoms for low potassium levels, it makes you wonder if they had got her medicines right would she still be alive now," said Christine McGovern, 60, from Brandon, County Durham.

Despite requesting Mrs Ward's medical records and having three meetings with senior officials, her family say there are still gaps.

"If we had accepted what they told us at face value my nanna died in her sleep, but now we know she didn't," said Victoria McGovern, 31.

"If this is happening to us it is probably happening to other people. The NHS has a duty of candour to tell the truth and this simply hasn't happened."

A spokesman for the County Durham and Darlington Trust said: "The trust has acknowledged and apologised for some shortcomings in Mrs Ward's care, and we have offered condolences to her family for their loss.

"We have written to the family, and met with them extensively. We have been open and honest with them in responding to their questions, but unfortunately there are some details where we are unable to satisfy them."

Durham City MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods, has met the family and had written to the County Durham and Darlington Trust on their behalf.

She has suggested that if they remain dissatisfied they could contact the independent Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.