A widow has spoken of her relief after her battle to find out why her husband died finally came to an end.

John Hemsley’s death after a small bowel obstruction at Maidstone Hospital in January last year was initially put down as natural causes, meaning there was no need for an inquest to be held.

But his wife Linda had concerns about his care – including a three-hour wait to be admitted to hospital – and wrote to the chief coroner to express these. Kent and Medway Coroner’s Court was then charged to investigate.

And so, more than a year after Mr Hemsley, of Fordwich Close, Allington, was cremated, an inquest was opened in January and adjourned.

The reconvened hearing was told how Mr Hemsley, who was 72, experienced nausea, dizziness and sudden vomiting in the early hours of Sunday, January 4.

He was taken by ambulance to Tunbridge Wells Hospital where tests showed he was dehydrated and the retired lorry driver was discharged.

Hours later, just before 4pm, he was referred to Maidstone Hospital. Here Mr Hemsley had waited for about three hours to be admitted when his condition suddenly deteriorated. He died just before 1am the following day.

Mr Hemsley had a history of hypertension, emphysema and bowel cancer, for which he had previously had surgery.

The two-and-a-half day inquest at Archbishop’s Palace, Maidstone, this month heard from doctors, ambulance staff and also a gastro specialist drafted in by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, which runs both the hospitals.

Giving a narrative verdict, assistant coroner Ian Wade QC referred to Mr Hemsley’s troubled medical history and made reference to the gap of almost three hours during which he was waiting to be admitted.

Mr Wade said: “He deteriorated suddenly at 6.45pm and was formally admitted at 7.13pm. His condition was irreversible and he died at 12.50am on January 6, 2015.”

Mrs Hemsley said: “John is very much missed. I loved my husband. He was my best friend and mentor.”

The former nurse said: “I feel better that I have heard the inquest. I would have always regretted it if I hadn’t written to the coroner.”