HOSPITAL staff have been cleared of any fault in the case of a man who died after waiting months to be diagnosed and treated.

Gordon Brooks, aged 68, died from respiratory failure and had also contracted hospital superbug MRSA after going to hospital with back pain 12 months earlier.

The back pain turned out to be a serious infection.

Mr Brooks' daughter Tina Cuniffe said the family were concerned that a delay in treatment could have contributed to his death on January 9 this year.

But the Bolton coroner found that the hospital was not at fault during an inquest.

Mr Brooks, of Filton Avenue, Bolton, had a history of back pain and was in hospital from May, 2005, until he died.

He had a scan on June 20 after it had been cancelled twice, and this revealed he had an infection in his spine.

Five doctors from the Royal Bolton Hospital and Hope Hospital who dealt with Mr Brooks throughout his care, gave evidence at the coroner's court yesterday, and all agreed that he had a rare condition that affected the disc bones in his back.

Stephen Hodgson, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, said that his colleague, Anthony Banks, who normally advises on spinal conditions, was on annual leave last June and so he contacted Hope Hospital in his absence.

He admitted that there were communication problems that slowed down the process.

Mr Brooks was administered antibiotics, but he deteriorated and he suffered extreme weight loss.His condition was not improving, so he was transferred to Hope Hospital in September where he had surgery.

He started to make a recovery, but he caught another infection which led to MRSA and his lung to collapse.

Brad Williamson, a specialist surgeon at Hope Hospital, said that if the spinal infection had been diagnosed sooner, the damage might have been limited, but said that it was a rare condition and the doctors were not to blame.

Jennifer Leeming, the coroner, said the decision was not easy, but she found the hospitals were not at fault in this incident and that Mr Brooks died from respiratory failure .

She recorded a verdict of discitis with cord compression (operated).

Mrs Tina Cunniffe said after the verdict that her father suffered from a lot of pain and paid tribute to him.

She said: "He was a great dad and always did what he thought was best for us. He had a lot of hobbies and was always happy to do anyone a favour."