A DYING war veteran aged 103 was given no food for his final two days after nurses misread his medical notes, an inquest heard.

       Norman Hubble was not given any food following a miscommunication between staff at Whipps Cross hospital.

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       Norman Hubble died aged 103 and was not fed in his final two days due to a staff mix up Credit: Rex

       The military hero died on Boxing Day after suffering from a lung infection while recovering from surgery for a broken leg.

       Walthamstow Coroner's Court heard that due to a long-term throat problem he should only be fed under supervision as he struggled to eat.

       However, a nurse misread his patient notes and thought it instructed staff not to feed Norman at all.

       The 106-year-old's wife Yvonne claimed the misreading of the notes was a consequence of a "lazy atmosphere" at the hospital.

       She said on Norman's final day he told her: "If I don't have a cup of tea and a biscuit, I will die."

       Coroner Graeme Irvine concluded the failure to feed Norman was a “significant error” that made his final days worse - but said it was not a direct cause of his death in 2019.

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       Yvonne said: “My husband was let down in his life by the lack of care and urgency given to him.”

       The inquest was told Norman was a "formidable" man who had lived a remarkably long and healthy life after serving his country.

       Rahul Luka, the hospital's senior nurse, apologised to Norman's family and admitted that "basic things were done wrong" and said that Whipps Cross had "taken lessons" from the tragedy.

       Coroner Irvine concluded: “One can’t imagine how it must be during the seasonal period to be recovering from a broken hip when one is 103 but that is made even worse when you can’t even have sustenance.

       “It seems to me that nurses had a cursive look at the notes, saw the words ‘nil by mouth’ and followed that instruction.

       If I don't have a cup of tea and a biscuit, I will die.

       “What is clear is that this is a gentleman of his generation: he was stoic, independent and uncomplaining.

       “It is very rare that I deal with a case of a man who made it to 103 and saw active service.

       “The information from family is that he was a formidable man. He managed to get to an old age with very little medical issues whatsoever.”

       The coroner recorded the death as accidental, rather than by natural causes, due to his view that Norman’s illness would not have happened if he had not fallen at home.