THE wife of a hard-working Andover grandfather who died just months after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer has aired her grievance with the hospital trust that treated her husband.

Alistair James Foster, also known as Jim, was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma on August 20 this year, following periods of breathlessness.

An inquest into his death at Winchester Coroner’s Court on Monday heard that Mr Foster had worked as a carpenter and a joiner right up until the day he went into hospital, but it was believed he was exposed to asbestos – which causes the cancer – during large-scale projects in the 1970s and 80s.

The 62-year-old was first admitted to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, run by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), on July 25 to drain fluid from his lungs. His wife Anita has claimed this sparked his downfall.

She said: “His treatment there was hideous, it was the unhealthiest place anyone could be, and he was there for 17 days.”

During the hearing a report was read from Dr Marcus Rimmer detailing Mr Foster’s care, but it was noted this contained inaccuracies, including dates and interactions with staff.

“They [the trust] can’t get anything right, the details they got wrong are worrying,” Mrs Foster added.

Before his death on September 17 he underwent several procedures to drain his lungs along with chemotherapy, but it was decided that only palliative care could be given, and he was moved into a private room on September 16.

Despite the trust saying that Mr Foster was moved for his privacy, Mrs Foster said that her husband of 39 years was only moved at “absolutely the last minute”.

“Mr Foster was in a ward that was absolutely bedlam. He was only moved to a side room when it was late, he was dying.”

Mrs Foster said that she would be making a complaint to the trust regarding the state of its wards and her husband’s care.

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of HHFT, which runs Andover War Memorial Hospital, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with Mr Foster’s family at this difficult time. I am sorry to hear that Mrs Foster did not feel that the care we gave to her husband reached the high standards that we aim to provide.

“I would encourage her to discuss her concerns with us by contacting our customer care team.”