Patient Mervyn Davies: Treated for burns

Managers from the hospital met the Davies family on Wednesday to explain a heated probe being used to cut tissue touched an anaesthetic probe in Mr Davies' throat.

He spent two months in hospital recovering after the incident, but died of natural causes in Dolgellau Community Hospital on 5 January after being taken ill.

North East Wales NHS Trust conducted the independent inquiry and, in a statement, said it was satisfied the incident was accidental.

'Plan followed'

The trust has issued new recommendations on the use of the probes, which have now been implemented on hospitals.

The findings have also been passed onto the National Assembly for Wales, the Medical Devices Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and the all-Wales NHS Risk Managers' Network.

There was no indication, prior to the fire occurring, of any impending problem

Trust report

"At the outset, the trust was determined to keep an open mind and to investigate all possible causes of the fire before coming to any conclusions," the statement read.

"There was no indication, prior to the fire occurring, of any impending problem. Surgery had proceeded according to plan.

"The surgical techniques being employed were recognised and accepted clinical practice, and the surgeons involved had extensive previous experience of the procedure being undertaken."

The investigation found no fault with the equipment being used and said proper clinical procedures were being adhered to.

The Royal College of Surgeons told the inquiry team there had been 15 similar incidents around the world between 1987 to 1999.

Mr Davies' family have not commented publicly on the report's conclusions.