A WIDOW told of her "deep disappointment" last night after a coroner ruled that her husband's death was not contributed to by a hospital's neglect.

Sandra Byers, whose late husband Barry died after what should have been a routine gallstones operation, vowed to sue the private Cleveland Nuffield Hospital in Norton, near Stockton.

She told The Northern Echo that Sunderland Coroner Derek Winter's verdict, that Mr Byers' death was the result of misadventure, did not go far enough.

"Misadventure suggests that my husband died through a series of unfortunate circumstances," she said.

"He didn't. The unfortunate circumstances in themselves would not have killed him. I'm deeply disappointed. I would like Mr Winter to have qualified misadventure with 'contributed to by neglect'."

Mr Byers, 60, of Heighington, near Darlington, died of multiple organ failure a week after the 45-minute operation at the hospital.

Doctors and nurses who cared for him after the surgery told an inquest last week and a hearing last November that they failed to realise he was suffering internal bleeding, despite his severely low blood pressure.

Two days after the operation, the bleeding brought on a heart attack.

Surgeon Andrew Gunning operated unsuccessfully again on Mr Byers, who was, said Mr Winter, in a "desperate position".

He was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital's intensive care unit, where he died on March 28, 2003.

Mr Winter said neglect would have meant a "gross failure to provide or procure basic medical attention".

"I can't find that even if there were failings they were gross or caused death," he said.

"Gross would mean total or complete. I do not believe, and in my judgement, that it amounts to neglect."

Mrs Byers, who began courting her husband aged 14, said: "We did everything together. I miss him so very much."

Mrs Byers' solicitor, Bernadette Lobb, said: "We will be issuing proceedings almost immediately."

A statement from the Nuffield Hospitals group last night said: "Nuffield Hospitals accepts the coroner's verdict and once more wishes to convey its condolences to Mrs Byers and family."

A hospital spokesman would not comment on the prospect of legal proceedings.