Probe after cancer woman's death

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Police are investigating allegations a woman died after accidentally being given the wrong blood type during a transfusion in hospital.

Margaret Davies, 67, died after receiving the transfusion at Whiston Hospital in Merseyside last month.

She had been admitted suffering from an MRSA-type bug and anaemia caused by her chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

An inquiry by the hospital and Merseyside Police has begun into claims Mrs Davies got type A blood not type O.

Mrs Davies's husband, Malcolm, 67, said she was given the wrong blood after hospital staff allegedly confused her details.

It is unbelievable that this could have happened Malcolm Davies

"It is disgraceful, we are very upset at what has happened," he said.

"It is unbelievable that this could have happened with all the checks that should be carried out.

"My wife was a beautiful woman who lived for her family. She deserved better than this."

Mr Davies, a former greengrocer, said doctors admitted the mistake to him.

He said after the transfusion she seemed fine, but hours later he received a phone call from a nurse saying his wife wanted to see him.

Shallow breathing

"When I got there she was on oxygen, she seemed in shock, she was shaking and her breathing was shallow," he said.

Within a few hours his wife died.

"She had cancer but she'd being doing champion and all the doctors told us she was doing well," said Mr Davies.

"This should never have been allowed to happen and must never happen to another family again."

A spokesman for St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We can confirm there was an incident which we are thoroughly investigating.

"Due to patient confidentiality, we are unable to give any details. The coroner has been informed."

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police confirmed officers were also investigating the death.