THE BROTHER of a woman who died following a routine operation eight years ago is attempting to have his sister's body exhumed so that a fresh inquest can be carried out in her death.

Carmel Bloom, who was 54 and lived in Snakes Lane East, died following the procedure to remove a kidney stone at the BUPA (now Spire) Roding Hospital in Clayhall in 2002.

Her brother Bernard, 59, has spent nearly a decade and more than £100,000 of his own money trying to uncover the circumstances in which she died.

Mr Bloom, of High Road, Chigwell, added that he felt there were discrepancies with evidence given at previous inquests and hearings about the amount of painkillers his sister and wanted to uncover the truth about whether that could have lead to her death.

He also said that there was evidence submitted at the last inquest which the jury was told to disregard, which he hoped would be included in any future investigations in his sisters death.

Mr Bloom said: “It's been eight years since she died and we've had three inquests and a hearing at the General Medical Council (GMC) and we still don't know the truth about what happened.

“I've heard a lot of people say that there is no evidence about certain things around why she died, but of course there isn't if you don't follow things up.

“We don't want to get Carmel up but it's really our only option because we want to get these answers, including toxicology on her, which we've never had.

“After all this time we still don't know where, when, how or why she died.”

Mr Bloom has contacted Ilford North MP Lee Scott and asked him to raise the matter when he meets the Lord Chancellor Ken Clarke on Wednesday next week.

The GMC Fitness to Practise hearing in February resulted in two of the doctors involved with her operation admitting to serious professional failings in their treatment – but neither were declared unfit to continue practising medicine.

At the hearing, Dr Paul Timmis admitted to allegations including that failing to stabilise Mrs Bloom properly before she was transferred to Whipps Cross.

In addition, her urological surgeon Dr John Hines admitted not returning to the hospital when called by a nurse who was concerned about Mrs Blooms' falling blood pressure and breathing difficulties.