THE daughter of a man who died of sepsis at Southend Hospital said she was “devastated” to hear about the new figures on death rates.

The figures revealed the hospital has one of the highest number of unexpected deaths in the country an investigation has revealed.

Southend Hospital probed the death of 78-year-old Roy Wall following complaints from his family.

In 2015, Mr Wall, of London Road, Leigh, was admitted for a gall bladder operation and sent home two weeks later despite still being unwell. Shortly afterwards he developed sepsis and died.

After learning of Prof Jarman’s findings, one of Mr Wall’s two daughters, Sue Mowatt, 51, of Weir Pond Road, Rochford, said: “It’s devastating and makes us more concerned there’s been a cover up.

“We have had no closure over the death of our father. It has never been addressed properly. We went through the proper complaints procedure.

“There was one meeting with the hospital and they said they would let us know what would happen next, but we just got a letter saying the case was closed. There were no answers.”

Mrs Mowatt is facing a knee replacement operation but says she is concerned about being admitted to the hospital.

She said: “I’m petrified to think what will happen after what happened to my father.

“I have to choose between living with the pain or risking an operation at Southend Hospital.”

Neil Rothnie, medical director at Southend Hospital, defended the action taken following Mr Wall’s death. He said: “Mr Wall’s family did submit a formal complaint to the trust following his death in 2015.

“Mr Wall’s case was referred to the coroner and, following the coroner’s investigation and narrative verdict, we invited his family to discuss their concerns and the outcome of the report. “

Mr Rothnie added: “We addressed their concerns and questions about Mr Wall’s care, as well as providing advice from clinicians and assurance that we had reviewed our local procedures.

“We provided a full record of the meeting to Mr Wall’s family, along with the invitation to contact us should they have any further questions or concerns.

“While we have not heard from Mr Wall’s family since the meeting in November 2016, we would invite Mrs Mowatt to contact the hospital so that we can discuss any further concerns she may have.”

Mr Wall’s death was not the only one that prompted an investigation.

In 2015 Southend Hospital was ordered to pay the family of a woman who was given an “inappropriate” sedative and died in hospital £65,000 in an out-of-court settlement.

Nicola Ames, 35, was admitted to Southend Hospital with acute pancreatitis in 2009.

Ms Ames, who had an alcohol dependency, was given medicine to calm her down when she became agitated.

Five years later a coroner ruled Ms Ames’ death certificate should be changed to reflect use of the sedative.

Her cause of death was also amended to record the respiratory failure she suffered, and the hospital’s failure to ventilate her in time

A baby boy was strangled by his umbilical cord after staff failed to properly monitor him.

Frankie Hodges died from oxygen starvation during his birth at Southend Hospital in March 2014.

The following year, a coroner recorded that he died after serious failings in his care.

Caroline Beasley-Murray said “more timely intervention” might have allowed baby Frankie to survive.