Cleared Asha at op inquest

A former Shropshire doctor cleared of involvement in the London and Glasgow car bomb plot has been at the centre of a three-day inquest on a county man.

Junior doctor Mohammed Asha was part of a three-person team which failed to realise Leslie Needle was bleeding to death after an operation.

The three doctors – including anaesthetist Dr Christy Davis and registrar Dr Awais Shuja – all believed critically ill Mr Needle, of Springfield, Nordley, near Bridgnorth, was dehydrated. His internal haemorrhaging went untreated.

A jury today returned a narrative verdict, which said Mr Needle's management and care had been "severely lacking".

The verdict said if adequate consideration had been given to the possibility of internal bleeding Mr Needle could have been taken back to theatre and may not have died.

Two separate inquiries into the death of Mr Needle, 63, highlighted a catalogue of failures at the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford. Police were called but the court heard the Crown Prosecution Service concluded there were no criminal charges to be brought.

Consultant vascular surgeon Mr Robert Duffield, who carried out an internal inquiry, admitted in court that an opportunity had been missed to save Mr Needle's life. Mr Charles Hendrikse, a surgeon with the Heart of England NHS Hospitals Trust, who was called in to carry out an external inquiry, concluded note taking in the case had been "absolutely appalling".

Mr Needle, who had undergone a bowel operation, was seen by Dr Asha, Dr Davis and Dr Shuja in the hospital's intermediate care area before he suffered a heart attack and died in the early hours of July 18, 2006.

A post mortem examination said he died from internal bleeding and peritonitis due to perforated diverticular disease.

Then house officer Dr Asha – who was cleared of conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court last year relating to the failed car bombings – Dr Davis and Dr Shuja no longer work for the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust.

Mr Hendrickse told the inquest that although his investigation revealed failings he had concluded there was no gross negligence in Mr Needle's care.

EXCLUSIVE by Simon Hardy