A father of three from Staffordshire died days after being discharged from hospital despite complaining of abdominal pain following a knee replacement operation, an inquest heard.

Former civil engineer Barry Harris, from Burntwood, suffered a fatal bowel obstruction three days after being released from Burton’s Queen’s Hospital.

Relatives of the 68-year-old grandfather-of-one told Staffordshire Coroner’s Court they had repeatedly raised concerns about his condition to doctors and nurses before he was sent home.

The inquest heard Mr Harris suffered with a swollen stomach and was unable to go to the toilet for nine days after undergoing surgery on October 11. But he was discharged after surgeons carried out a procedure to unravel his gut.

He collapsed at home on October 23 and paramedics were unable to save him.

A post-mortem found Mr Harris died from an obstruction in the lower intestine due to recurrent twisting.

Deputy coroner Louise McCabe concluded yesterday there was insufficient evidence to rule Mr Harris died of neglect or failings in care, recording a verdict of death by natural causes.

His widow Valerie, 68, is launching legal action against the hospital.

Relatives claim medics failed to identify Mr Harris was suffering from a bowel obstruction.

After the hearing, retired teacher Mrs Harris, of Rugeley Road, said: “I’m so angry about the care Barry received. He put his trust in those doctors and, in my opinion, they let him down very badly.”

After the inquest, Laura Daly, of Irwin Mitchell solicitors, the firm representing Mr Harris’s family, said: “Barry’s care raises a number of urgent questions.”

Queen’s medical director Craig Stenhouse offered his condolences to the family but said he could not comment on individual cases.