The NHS trust running Wexham Park Hospital has apologised to the family of a 76-year-old man after an inquest concluded failings in his care contributed to his death.

Michael Burke’s death was recorded as being ‘contributed to by neglect’ as a coroner ruled earlier this month that problems with his treatment at the Slough hospital had played a part.

His widow, Linda, told the Express her life had been brought to a ‘standstill’ since his death in 2024 and that the issues with his care at Wexham Park had caused ‘huge trust issues’.

A spokesperson said Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust ‘fully accepts the coroner’s findings and apologise unreservedly that aspects of Mr Burke’s care fell below the standard we expect’.

Mr Burke, a former British Airways engineer who worked for the airline for 38 years, was diagnosed with a spinal condition in 2020 which resulted in the loss of both his legs.

As a paraplegic, he had complex care needs and required regular manual repositioning to prevent the development of pressure sores and ulcers.

Mrs Burke, 75, said her husband sometimes needed hospital treatment for infections which could not be managed at home, but said these admissions became a source of anxiety.

She worried medics at the hospital were not repositioning him as needed.

“It was awful because I didn't really want him to go in,” she said.

“When he got infections, I wanted him to be treated at home with intravenous [IV] antibiotics [but] they said it was impossible to have it done at home. So, he had to go in.

“At one time I wanted to put a camera in his room because I knew they weren’t looking after him and then they said no, you can’t bring a camera in.

“I have trust issues – big, huge trust issues – because of them.”

Mrs Burke said she became increasingly concerned about whether her husband was receiving the care he needed while in hospital.

She added: “That’s how it got to me in the end because they were saying in there they were turning him and I knew they wouldn't.”

Mr Burke’s health deteriorated in 2024 and he died at his home in Old Windsor on October 5 that year.

At an inquest in Berkshire Coroner’s Court, assistant coroner Robert Simpson said his death had been of ‘natural causes contributed to by neglect’.

The record of inquest stated: “In 2024 he developed new pressure damage in hospital due, at least partly, to not repositioning him as often as required and over the course of that year his overall health declined.”

Following the inquest’s conclusion on July 15, Mrs Burke said: “I think the coroner got me; he was the only one that understood.”

She said: “The coroner could see through it totally, that is one good thing he did.

“He got it, that they did neglect him.”

The couple married when Mrs Burke was 19, went on to have two sons together and would also become grandparents.

She said losing her husband after 55 years together had brought her life to a ‘standstill’.

“Sometimes I don’t want to be here, I want to be with him,” she said.

“When you've been with someone 55 years, you’re lost.

“You don't know what to do with yourself.”

Lime Solicitors’ Rhea Javed, who represented the family, said the inquest finding was particularly disappointing given the level of care Mr Burke required.

“The finding of neglect itself, it’s really disappointing for someone with Michael’s condition,” she said.

“And the fact the additional care that he needed, and the care plan just remained the same throughout and it wasn’t followed at any point, it wasn’t changed.

“It’s just so disappointing for a family already having to contend with such life-changing events to then have the last four years of Michael’s life just being hell for him.”

An NHS Frimley Health Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “We are deeply sorry for the distress and loss experienced by Mr Burke’s family.

“We fully accept the coroner’s findings and apologise unreservedly that aspects of Mr Burke’s care fell below the standard we expect.

"The trust has already taken action to strengthen pressure area care, with particular emphasis on those who have increased vulnerabilities.

“We are also reviewing our recording of patient care.

“We are continuing to share learning across the organisation and improve oversight to help improve care for all our patients."