A widow has called for a surgeon to be sacked four years after her husband died in Airedale General Hospital, Steeton, following a routine operation.

Susan Andrews' husband Michael, above, who ran Premier Arms firearms in Cowling, near Skipton, died aged 56, on February 27, 2000, 30 days after his operation.

Mrs Andrews, of Keelham Lane, Utley, has been awarded an undisclosed sum in compensation following a ruling by a High Court judge sitting in Leeds.

The legal case against Airedale NHS Trust - which admitted it did not give standard care - listed a catalogue of errors, both medical and nursing.

Trust bosses elected not to file a defence against an accusation of neglect.

The hearing was told that the surgeon, Raj Kapadia and a senior house officer, went on holiday after the operation.

Mr Andrews was left with no senior medical cover, only junior staff and nurses to care for him.

He later died of a massive cardiac arrest after suffering gross dehydration leading to hypervolemic/septic shock.

Mrs Andrews, who has complained to the General Medical Council said: "Mr Kapadia should never be allowed to work in the health service again.

"Nurses lose their jobs for less than this, members of the medical and nursing staff clearly should have been suspended and dismissed when proven.

"How many more cases like this will they allow to happen or will they act now."

She had received an apology from the Trust chief, Bob Allen, but it did not go far enough.

His son Mark Andrews, 25, said: "For what they have done they should hang their heads in shame."

And his brother, 28 year-old Neil said: "I can never forgive the way they let our father die and for what they have put us all through."

Airedale trust chief executive, Bob Allen, said there were shortcomings in the standard of care which may have contributed towards Mr Andrews' deterioration and subsequent death.

He said an independent review panel made recommendations, which were implemented to ensure they were not repeated.

Mr Allen said: "We have contacted Mrs Andrews and offered our sincerest apologies and sympathies to her and her sons and would like to do so again today. This has been a tremendously distressing experience for her and her family."

A spokesman for the GMC said it was not policy to confirm the identity of a doctor who had been complained about.