A FENLAND family has turned for help to the UK’s leading personal injury solicitors’ firm following the death of their 53-year-old father in hospital.

Irwin Mitchell, with 2,000 staff and 100 partners, have been called in by the family of Allan Barratt who died at Peterborough District Hospital in June last year.

Mr Barratt had gone into hospital for what Irwin Mitchell described as “minimally invasive hernia repair surgery. Mr Barratt began to suffer from pain, sickness and vomiting shortly after the operation, and his condition deteriorated until his death.”

An inquest in Peterborough on Monday heard how Mr Barratt, of The Pigeons, Murrow, died on June 18 last year just four days after keyhole surgery.

Coroner Gordon Ryall, who recorded a narrative verdict, was told, that during the operation Mr Barratt’s bowel was damaged which caused a leak leading to peritonitis. Although this was quickly treated Mr Barratt died from an infection.

Jenny Baker, a medical law specialist at law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: “Allan’s sudden and unexpected death has left his family utterly devastated.”

An inquiry at the time by the hospital led to improvements in post surgery care and better record keeping.

Mr Barratt was described as a “beloved husband of Jan, devoted father of Gemma and Paul, step-father of James and Aaron, much loved granddad of Pippa, a dear brother, brother in law and friend to many” in a family notice uploaded to our website last year.

His funeral service was held at Peterborough Crematorium on July 14, 2010 and the wake was held at the Cock Inn pub in March.

Coroner Gordon Ryall recorded a narrative verdict.

An inquiry at the time by the hospital led to improvements in post surgery care and better record keeping.