London, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/19/2010 -- Mr and Mrs Jukes lived in Caversham, Reading. Mr Jukes worked as an Accountant and his wife ran the family home. She suffered from diabetes and heart disease, and also had a previous history of occasional psychotic and confused episodes.

In February 2006, aged 68, she began to show signs of confusion. Conscious of the previous medical history of mental health, both her GP and her husband agreed that it would be prudent for her to be admitted to Prospect Park Hospital for observation. She was admitted there on Friday 24 February 2006, and it was noted that she had other medical conditions of heart disease and diabetes. Instructions were given to carry out daily glucose monitoring tests. The hospital was fully aware of her medical history and the fact that she was on medication that carried a high risk of causing a diabetic coma if she did not eat regularly. However, the glucose monitoring tests were not regularly done and no comprehensive care plan was put in place.

Between her admission on 24 February and the evening of 3 March, Mrs Jukes stopped eating, and became increasingly confused, lethargic and drowsy. Despite these symptoms, the hospital staff failed to notice her deteriorating condition or to realise that her lack of eating would cause problems for her diabetic condition.

Mrs Jukes fell asleep on the evening of 3 March and she was left by the hospital staff to sleep through the night. On the morning of 4 March, when they were doing morning rounds, she could not be roused and it was discovered that day that she had fallen into a diabetic coma.

Mrs Jukes was removed from Prospect Park Hospital and taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital. However, her husband was told that due to the length of time she had been in a diabetic coma the chances of being able to successfully treat her and bring her back were very low. She passed away on 18 March 2006. As a result of the delays in recognising and treating her, the diabetic coma caused brain damage and caused her to develop bronchial pneumonia from which she died.

There was an inquest into her death on 20 February 2007 and the findings of the Coroner, Mr Peter Bedford, HM Coroner for Berkshire, were unequivocal. He concluded that Mrs Jukes' death was avoidable.

Following an admission by the defendant that their actions had caused the death of Mrs Jukes, negotiations were entered into between the parties to agree the valuation of the claim, which settled for the sum of £40,000 in total and, very importantly for Mr Jukes, a letter of apology from the Chief Executive of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Mr Jukes is pleased the case is now concluded. He is making a donation from the proceeds of the litigation to Diabetes UK in memory of the life, love and laughter of Shanu Jukes.