HOSPITAL bosses are to carry out an inquiry into the death of a man whose family believe his heart problem was not properly diagnosed.

Bernard Johnson died less than 12 hours after going to the Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, complaining of chest pains.

Mr Johnson was 71 and had previously been fit and healthy. He had a part-time job repairing boat sails and was a jazz musician on the Medway scene.

His widow Jill said he had an ECG test at the hospital to monitor his heart, which was analysed by a junior doctor.

Mr Johnson, of Georgian Way, Wigmore, was not placed in a priority queue and his wife was told to go home and get him some clothes. But she got a call to get back to hospital and her husband died that evening.

His grieving wife Jill said: "A life has been lost and it needn't have happened. Bernard had so much to live for."

A spokesman for Medway Maritime Hospital said: "We are conducting a full and thorough investigation into this matter and on completion we will be in touch with the family."

* See Monday's Medway Messenger for the full story.