A CORONER is to ask Southampton hospital bosses to see whether any lessons can be learned after an elderly man died of a rare flesh-eating bug.

Keith Wiseman will write to Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust following the death of patient George Wall who died after becoming infected with the rare necrotizing fasciitis bug.

The 70-year-old died of multiple organ failure within days of the aggressive bug being picked up while he was recovering from a spinal operation.

Mr Wall, who was suffering from cancer, was found to have developed an infection that led to necrotizing fasciitis developing despite emergency surgery being carried out.

He died on November 28 last year within a few days of the infection being detected.

Dr Ann Pallett, consultant microbiologist, said the type of infection that Mr Wall, of Park Lane, Milford-on-Sea, had developed had most likely originated from his own gut, rather than as a result of cross infection.

Mr Wiseman recorded a verdict of death from an overwhelming infection of uncertain cause and duration but probably of internal origin.

He said the evidence heard during the inquest suggested that the infection that took hold developed within Mr Wall's body itself rather than from any external source.

Hospital bosses have also been requested by Mr Wiseman to outline the working protocol of the infection control team at Southampton General Hospital.