The family of a young mum who died shortly after being admitted to hospital with a cough have hit out at the NHS over her treatment.

The Observer reported last week how an inquest heard Julie Lomax, of Brunswick Terrace, Accrington, died in the medical assessment unit at Royal Blackburn Hospital on March 16 aged 35.

The mum-of-one, who had previously had heart surgery, was admitted the day before with a productive cough and later died from septicaemia due to infective endocarditis.

Last week coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of natural death at Blackburn Coroners’ Court. A spokesman for the hospital said an investigation was being held into the complaint.

Speaking after the inquest her mum May Lomax said she believed her daughter would still be alive if she was given treatment sooner.

She said: “It was just a mess up from beginning to end. She was on a stretcher and they wouldn’t give her oxygen. She knows when she needs it as she has had heart bypasses.

“They were telling her she was fit enough to walk but the next day she was dead. How could she be fit enough?”

Julie’s sister Kerry Lomax criticised hospital staff for not attending her sister’s inquest and to answer their questions.

She said: “I thought we would be upset after the inquest but I’m more angry. We didn’t get any answers for anything. What we came to the inquest for we got nothing.

“I don’t understand why there was nobody from the hospital there at the inquest. Why did they put her on an assessment ward and not on a specialist heart ward knowing her history?”

Lynn Wissett, Chief Nurse at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said an investigation had been launched following a complaint.

She said: “Once again we offer our sincere condolences to Ms Lomax’s family for their loss.

“The Trust follows all the guidelines set out by the Coroner’s Office and on this occasion the Trust was not required to attend the inquest. We are in receipt of a formal complaint and any issues raised will be fully investigated by the Trust and communicated to the family.

“The care and safety of our patients is our overriding priority and any concerns will be fully explored.”