SIX children were denied the chance to say goodbye to their dying father because doctors didn't tell them he was entering his final hours, it was claimed today.

The lack of information - for which a top doctor has apologised was today condemned as "disgraceful" by one of the daughters of 62-year-old Leslie Hodson.

They said the grandfather had a fear of dying in hospital and they would have brought him home from Blackburn Royal Infirmary if they had known he was close to death.

Samantha Hodson, 25, said she wanted a formal apology from East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust over the "devastating" ordeal.

Miss Hodson, who has made an official complaint to the Trust, said: "His own children never had the chance to say goodbye, it was only me and my brother. When his other children turned up he had died.

"My dad would have wanted to see them. I only got 10 minutes with him but at least I got those 10 minutes. His other children are heartbroken and really angry.

"He was always frightened of hospitals. He said he wanted to die at home, not in hospital."

Mr Hodson was admitted to Blackburn Royal Infirmary on October 15 because of complications brought on by emphysema, contracted through a lifetime of smoking.

According to a letter to the family from Dr Nigel Horsfield, a consultant physician, he was assessed at 9.45am on October 18 to have "end stage disease".

The Derwent Court, Darwen resident was sent to another ward and Dr Horsfield said "at that stage it is quite fair to say his death was relatively likely."

But that day Miss Hodson said staff told her he was "doing well and he would probably be discharged home in about four or five days".

And when she rang the hospital at 9.30am the next day staff again described him as "fine", she said.

But 45 minutes later the hospital called to say Mr Hodson's condition had worsened.

Miss Hodson, of Brownhill Road, Blackburn said: "We rushed to the hospital but got there at 11.20am because we had to pick up my mum and brother on the way.

"He was agitated during his last night. He didn't sleep and he was on his own.

"He had wet the bed through. There was no dignity at all."

Mr Hodson died just over an hour later, at 12.30pm.

Miss Hodson: "It is appalling to know he was going to die but not tell us.

"He would have had his family around him, not the way it was. We are devastated."

In his letter, which followed a meeting with the family, Dr Horsfield wrote: "You did express concern that this likelihood of death was not made clear to you and all I can do is apologise."

He said Mr Hodson's deterioration was "relatively sudden" on October 19 but added: "I do want to again apologise for you not being informed of the seriousness of his condition".

Anne Asher, divisional director, today said: "We have received a letter of complaint from Mr Hodson's family concerning Mr Hodson's care whilst in hospital.

"The trust has a duty of confidentiality to individual patients and therefore cannot comment on the specifics of Mr Hodson's treatment.

"However, we will be offering to meet with Mr Hodson's family to discuss their concerns."

Dr Horsfield could not be contacted to comment.