9 September 2010 Last updated at 12:54 ET

Musgrove Park Hospital boss summoned to inquest

Jo Cubbon told the inquest she was "extremely sorry" about the events leading to the death

The chief executive of an NHS trust has appeared at an inquest into the death of an 87-year-old man after being summoned by the coroner.

Roland Holbrow was not seen for more than five hours after he was admitted to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

Coroner Michael Rose summoned Jo Cubbon to attend because he said she had not responded to concerns he had expressed about the hospital previously.

She said she was "extremely sorry" for the circumstances leading to the death.

Ms Cubbon, chief executive of Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, told the inquest an investigation into Mr Holbrow's death on 14 August was being carried out.

'Not productive'

The inquest heard Mr Holbrow was admitted to the hospital's Eliot Ward at about 1915 BST, but was not seen by the junior doctor on duty until after midnight.

During this time, the inquest was told, Mr Holbrow was constantly monitored by nurses and that one of them was so concerned about his breathing that she repeatedly called for a doctor.

He already had MRSA and C. difficile and the chief executive said he was kept in a separate room so he could not pass any infection to other patients.

By the time he was seen, the coroner heard, Mr Holbrow had died.

Hospital investigation

A pathologist said he had died from pneumonia.

Listening to Ms Cubbon's evidence, the coroner said there did not seem to be a very productive system in place for the night doctors on duty.

He said there was not a great deal to inspire confidence in terms of the "traffic lights" system that denoted the urgency of care for patients.

Mr Rose also referred to a previous inquest he had presided over in which he heard one junior doctor at the hospital had been in charge of 100 patients over the course of one night.

The hospital's own investigation is expected to be finished within the next two weeks.

Ms Cubbon said she would implement any recommendations relating to overnight staffing levels.

The inquest in Taunton is expected to conclude on Friday.