A GRIEVING husband told an inquest yesterday that he believed his wife died of an infection she contracted because of dirty surgical instruments used at a North-East hospital.

Two weeks ago, The Northern Echo revealed how instruments used at Bishop Auckland General Hospital, County Durham, were coming back from the Sterilisation Centre at Darlington Memorial Hospital with dried blood and flesh still attached.

David Kirwan, 54, of Piercebridge, told Teesside Coroner's Court that he believed this caused the death of his wife, Marianne, 57. She died last December 9, after an operation at Bishop Auckland to remove cancer from her oesephagus.

General surgeon Simon Stock said that, after the operation, Mrs Kirwan became increasingly unwell and was moved to the hospital's intensive care unit.

She underwent surgery to have her bowel drained of fluid and gas, but her condition continued to deteriorate and she suffered kidney failure. Mrs Kirwan was transferred to South Cleveland Hospital, but died six hours later from septicaemia.

The inquest heard that the infection probably started in Mrs Kirwan's body as a result of major surgery, but it could have come from dirty instruments, intensive care unit nurses, catheters or feeding tubes.

Mr Stock, who said he shared Mr Kirwan's concerns about surgical instruments, said: "There is always a small risk of septicaemia after an invasive surgical procedure. The most likely source of the infection was the patient's own body rather than contamination from someone else, although this cannot be ruled out."

Coroner Michael Sheffield recorded a verdict of misadventure. Later, Mr Kirwan said he would be pursuing his concerns with the South Durham Trust.

A spokeswoman for South Durham Health Care NHS Trust said it extended sincere sympathy to Mr Kirwan and would be investigating his concerns.

She stressed that surgical instruments were checked carefully before operations.