POLICE were called to investigate after a pensioner died due to a hospital operation, an inquest heard.

The devastated family of grandad Raymond Lane waited three years to find out why he died at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and have been told he could have been saved if his brain tumour had been spotted.

Following CT scans an MRI scan did not go ahead and when a lumbar puncture was carried out it “led directly to his death” in January 2009, Southampton Coroner Keith Wiseman said.

In giving a narrative verdict, the coroner said Mr Lane died from the consequences of undergoing a lumbar puncture which was “inappropriately carried out” as the 68-year-old was suffering from a brain tumour.

He said: “There were clear opportunities for such identification to take place from CT scans taken before the lumbar puncture was carried out, or from other types of scan that could but were not obtained.”

During a lumbar puncture a needle is inserted into the spinal cord to withdraw fluid for diagnosis. In Mr Lane’s case he died after it caused a “sudden” and “elevated”

intracranial pressure.

Police and the Crown Prosecution Service later found there was no “gross” error involved and did not prosecute.

The coroner said consultants advised that the benign tumour could have been treated and was “unlikely” to cause death had the procedure not taken place.

The retired British Rail accident prevention and safety officer had a fall at home in Burnett’s Lane in Horton Heath, near Hedge End, in 2008 and was suffering from poor balance.

Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman said doctors reported “there was every hope of a full recovery”.

The coroner said Dr Jane Cheetham “seemed” to be accepting that indicative swollen ventricles were “there to be seen” at the first CT scan and “did not seem to offer any particular explanation for having missed that on both occasions”.

Mr Wiseman said despite Dr Cheetham’s “central position” he felt that “the burden of responsibility does have to stretch wider.

He said all involved had done all they can to further refine a number of areas where practice can be improved with Dr Cheetham having a “first class” work record “without further blemish”.

Mr Lane’s family Mr Lane’s family paid tribute to a “loving husband, father and grandfather.”

They welcomed the verdict and said they “hope lessons have been learned”.

A hospital s p o k e s m a n said: “We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Mr Lane’s family.”