A coroner has raised concerns about specialist hospital bed shortages following the death of a war veteran.

Doctors said Arthur Duckworth, of High Street, Oswaldtwistle , should have been transferred immediately to Royal Preston Hospital for specialist care after scans revealed he had a fractured neck.

The former World War Two Desert Rat had been taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital after suffering a fall at home.

However, the inquest at Blackburn Coroners Court heard that Mr Duckworth could not be transferred to Royal Preston Hospital, a centre of excellence for spinal injuries, because of a shortage of beds.

The great-grandfather’s condition deteriorated and he died on June 13,  aged 91 – a day after arriving at the hospital.

Makaram Srinivasan, an orthopaedic consultant at Royal Blackburn Hospital, said it was ‘very dangerous’ for him to remain there and he should have been transferred immediately.

He told the inquest: “It was an unstable fracture and I anticipated major problems if he was with us. I gave clear instructions that there could be potential danger to life or neurology.”

The inquest heard how Arup Ray, a neurosurgeon at Royal Preston Hospital, agreed that Mr Duckworth should have been transferred but there were no neurosurgery beds available.

The former Graham and Brown employee died from acute heart failure caused by both ischaemic heart disease and neck fracture contributed to by bronchopneumonia.

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Michael Singleton said: “How can it be that Royal Preston is a centre of excellence dealing with a wide geographical area that has insufficient capacity?”

He told Mr Duckworth’s family: “One matter that has clearly concerned me and Mr Srinivasan at the time relates to the situation with regards to a transfer to Preston.

“You asked me would it have made any difference and I think the answer is one can never say with any certainty. I couldn’t conclude that yes the outcome would have been different.”

Mr Duckworth’s son Raymond paid tribute to his father.

He said: “It was an accident that caused the heart condition that killed him. I’m happy enough with that outcome.

“He fought for his country and was never injured. He joked when this happened to him saying he had fought in the war and come out unscathed and then fell at home and broke his neck.”

After the hearing, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the nature of Mr Duckworth’s injury meant he would require a transfer within 24 hours but he passed away before that could happen.

A spokesperson added: “The Trust at inquest made it clear that had Mr Duckworth’s clinical condition deemed it necessary for emergency intervention, he would have been transferred and a suitable bed would have been made available for him.”