A patient at Darent Valley hospital died from gangrenous bed sores because of neglect while in their care.

Today Roger Hatch, the North West Kent coroner rejected hospital claims that Anthony Fluendy was bound to die after bering admitted with a stroke, and that his death was from natural causes.

He said the care level was "inadequate".

Mr Fluendy, of West Kingsdown, developed bed sores on his back, buttocks, scrotum and legs. He also caught pneumonia in the hospital.

The hospital accepted its nurses care failed Mr Fluendy.

Since his death more nurses have been recruited, training improved, and ward sisters have been great responsibility.

Jenny Kay, the nursing director, publicly apologised to the family.

She told the coroner: "It is very clear the care ... did not meet the standards we would have expected within this organisation."

She added doctors weren't concerned about skin ailments. Instead nurses believed pressure sores were their responsibility.

That had changed as a result of the family's determination to expose what happened to Mr Fluendy.

Speaking after the inquest on behalf of the family, daughter Julie from Dartford, said: “We were devastated and incensed by the seemingly uncaring attitude of many of the staff at the hospital and the apparent lack of basic nursing skills and kindness.

"There is no reasonable excuse for anyone to get pressure sores in this day and age due to the advances in technological equipment.

“It was horrific and heartbreaking to witness our father die a slow and agonising death which was totally avoidable.

“Although this has been a very difficult time for us we know nothing can turn back the clock and bring our father back.

"We only hope the hospital trust has learnt from the mistakes made by staff throughout our dad’s care and make sure the same things can’t happen again."

Mr Fluendy, who made parts in the motor industry and was widowed in 2008, had walked using crutches since suffering a spinal cord injury at age nine.

In his 60s, his shoulder muscles had weakened severely, meaning he had to use a wheelchair and was unable to support himself in bed or turn over.

A Darent Valley Hospital spokesman said: "We offer our sincere condolences to Mr Fluendy's family and accept that the nursing care and treatment of his pressure ulcers did not meet the standards expected within the organisation. "We have apologised to the family and settled their claim for compensation.

"We have taken this incident extremely seriously.

"The events that occurred in the summer of 2010 prompted a significant improvement in pressure ulcer prevention and nursing care at this hospital. "As a direct consequence, a comprehensive improvement plan was introduced in 2010/11. During the last year 2011/12 the number of Grade 3 and 4 pressure ulcers has been nearly halved from 57 to 30."