Prison staff were found to be guilty of neglect when treating a heart patient who later died.

Patrick Ewens was 68 when he died in HMP Swaleside in Sheppey. He was serving a 23-year sentence for importing Class A drugs - his first offence.

But an inquest in Maidstone saw a jury return a verdict that he died from natural causes contributed to by neglect.

The inquest also found evidence of individual and systemic failures in Mr Ewens' treatment.

The hearing was told Mr Ewens was already suffering from heart problems when he arrived in prison in 2004, and was on a waiting list for a triple bypass operation.

When he turned down a cancellation operation his name was removed from the waiting list - but nobody was told.

But, Coroner Roger Sykes said in his summing up, a series of issues arose which exacerbated Mr Ewens' situation.

These included:

* An expert witness's claim that a change of medication and the bypass operation would have "improved his prognosis considerably"

* No action taken after an ECG showed "horrific" and "very worrying" results, according to independent GP Dr Nick Silk.

* When a letter was sent to St Bart's Hospital after Mr Ewens complained of chest and armpit pains, consistent with a heart attack, the letter was not chased up.

Prison GP Dr Rangaswamy said about that incident: "In the prison system, things get lost."

Mr Ewens had been invited onto the prison hospital ward on several occasions by the medical staff so they could monitor his condition - but refused each time, preferring to stay in his cell. He was seen again on September 19 with a worsening condition, but again refused to come onto the ward and returned to his cell on B wing with instructions to keep his legs elevated - but no means of doing so.

He was found collapsed in his cell on October 2, not breathing and with no pulse. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Medway Maritime hospital: cause of death ischaemic heart attack.

Speaking after the inquest, lawyers representing the family said: "This has been a long and painful process for the family and they are relieved that after four years the failings that contributed to their father's death have at last been identified.

Following a unanimous verdict of "death by natural causes contributed to by neglect", the jury concluded that opportunities were missed on more then one occasion for his medical care to be altered and improved sufficiently in line with his deteriorating health.

"Although their loss can never be replaced, the family is hopeful that healthcare will now improve at HMP Swaleside."