A CORONER has given health chiefs until the end of the year to assure him that a gap in services for the elderly has been filled.

Earlier this month consultant orthopaedic surgeon Ian Smith admitted at an inquest in Ruthin that ortho-geriatric services at Gan Clwyd Hospital were "not as they should be".

"We are just not providing the service at the moment," he said.

Mr Smith said he had first raised concerns about the situation at a previous in 2016 but nothing had changed since then.

What was needed, he said, was "an intermediate level of care" for geriatric patients following orthopaedic surgery.

Mr Smith was giving evidence at an inquest into the death of 77-year-old Megan Lloyd-Williams, who died at Glan Clwyd Hospital on September 9 last year.

She was admitted on August 23 after breaking her hip in a fall at her home in St Peter's Park, Northop. She underwent surgery, which was successful but within days complained of severe stomach pains.

A scan carried out on September 2 revealed a perforated duodenum and although she underwent further emergency surgery she died of peritonitis.

Her husband Roy said the family's concern was that the perforated duodenum should have been diagnosed sooner but his wife was not seen by any medic other than an orthopaedic doctor for nine days.

After recording a conclusion of accidental death on May 8 John Gittins, coroner for North Wales East and Central, voiced concern at the lack of action following assurances he had been given in 2016.

The hearing was for him to consider whether to issue a Regulation 28 report for the prevention of future deaths, and he heard evidence from Deborah Carter, associate director of quality assurance with the Best Cadwaladr University Health Board, who said that since 2016 there had a review of the way in which the orthopaedic-geriatric service was provided.

She said that in addition to there being more of a team approach, funding had now been approved for the appointment of an ortho-geriatric specialist who, if they managed to keep to the timetable, should be in position by November.

Mr Gittins said he did not believe that a Regulation 28 report would achieve anything but instead he asked be notified by the end of the year what progress had been made.

"The gap very much needs filling," he said.

Lessons needed to be learned, he continued, adding "This is an opportunity and it must be addressed as an opportunity for change."

Addressing the Williams family, he said: "You will at least know that the loss of your loved one will help others going forward."