A MOTHER-of five has told how her life has been ruined after a routine operation went wrong.

Haley Jones now faces an uncertain future after surgeons damaged her bile duct, leaving her wearing two bags to rid her stomach of blood and waste.

Last night, hospital bosses apologised to Miss Jones, who is from Shildon, County Durham, saying an investigation had been launched as to how the routine gall bladder operation had gone wrong.

Miss Jones said: "I am absolutely gutted. I have no energy and I am in so much pain, but more so I am away from my children.

"They need me and instead I could be here for weeks until they sort this out.''

The 32-year-old was admitted to Darlington Memorial Hospital for the surgery on June 6 and was given the okay to go home the following day.

Two days later she was rushed back into theatre in excruciating pain to discover that the tube attached to her bile duct had been badly damaged.

Miss Jones said that the surgeon had apologised profusely, but said he was unable to repair the damage so she has now been sent to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle where the tube will be rebuilt.

She said it had had a devastating effect on her children who are aged between two and 14 years and her partner Andrew Box, 33.

"The kids cannot understand what is happening and have been crying for me and it is hard for Andrew to keep making the journey to Newcastle," she said.

"If I had realised this was going to happen I would never have agreed to the operation. I also have an infection so nothing can be done until that clears. It really has ruined my life and my family's.''

Professor Chris Gray, Medical Director, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said: "It is with our deepest regret that Miss Jones experienced a rare, but known, complication during her surgery. We are very sorry this has occurred and we will be reviewing the case to understand all of the factors and to identify any learning points.

"We have written to Miss Jones and expressed our apologies and extended an offer for her to contact us if she has further questions or if she would like to discuss anything in more detail."