The family of a woman who was taken off life support without their consent after contracting sepsis in a hospital ward are looking for answers from the hospital where she died.

Valerie Holden, from Grays, went into Basildon Hospital to have a cancerous tumour on her bowel removed.

Her husband, Roy Holden, 80, says he requested she had keyhole surgery, but the doctors gave her open surgery.

Following the operation, Valerie was placed into Burstead Ward - a ward for patients who need acute surgical care.

However, Valerie’s family say they “begged” the doctors not to put her in there and insisted that the best place for her would be in intensive care.

While in the Burstead Ward, Valerie contracted sepsis, but the family claim they were not made aware of the infection.

Valerie’s daughter, Tina Holden, 47, said: “We were never told she had sepsis and we found out after the nurse just mentioned it as if we already knew.”

Valerie’s condition began to deteriorate and she ended up being put on a ventilator to support her life.

After being in the Burstead Ward for three-and-a-half months, a nurse came in to take her off the ventilator, despite this being against her husband’s wishes.

He said: “I begged for them not take my wife off the ventilator but she did, in front of her whole family. It was horrible to watch.”

Tina Holden added: “The nurse said that she received orders from the doctor. What I found really strange is why they brought the family in to watch.”

Valerie died on October 8, aged 77.

Her family now want answers, saying they had begged for her to not be in Burstead Ward, which they described as being “dirty and unhygienic”.

Roy, who was with Valerie for 62 years and married for 58, said she was only supposed to be on the ward for two to three weeks and he wanted her to come home.

Devastated by the loss of his wife, he said: “If they had let her come home out of that ward, or if they had given her keyhole surgery, then I think she would still be with us today.”

A spokesman for Basildon Hospital said: “Patients in intensive care are there because they are gravely ill and need one-to-one nursing. ICU patients are reviewed by consultants and clinicians frequently and decisions regarding their medical care, including their need for continuing intensive support, are only ever made by senior medical staff.

"We extend our condolences to Mrs Holden’s family.”