A RETIRED nurse died from pneumonia after refusing to see a doctor for years, an inquest has heard.

Patricia Pugh of Pandy died on April 7 at Hereford County Hospital aged 75.

The inquest, held at Herefordshire Coroner's Court on August 13, heard that she was suffering from severe pneumonia and arrived at the hospital with her partner in an ‘unkempt’ state.

Mrs Pugh was also suffering from hypothermia and serious pressure sores when she was admitted.

Dr Laura Troth, who helped treat Mrs Pugh at Hereford County Hospital and gave evidence at the inquest, said: “I have seen lots of people who are malnourished, she was certainly on the far end of the scale of what I had seen before.”

Mrs Pugh’s family who attended the inquest thanked hospital staff for their care.

Summing up, coroner Mark Bricknell said: “She arrived at hospital in a concerning state but I will conclude that the death was due to natural causes.”