The family of a pensioner who died after a second round of surgery following an earlier mistake are to continue with the dead woman's plans for legal action.

Annie May Carter had an operation on 20 August to replace a right knee part put into her left leg by mistake at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr.

The pensioner, who had acute angina, died on 31 August after suffering three heart attacks at her home in the town.

Everyone at the trust is desperately sorry for the family

Phillip Williams, North Glamorgan NHS Trust

At present, there is no suggestion of a link between Mrs Carter's death and the surgery.

The family have confirmed they still intend to take legal action against North Glamorgan Health Trust for the mistake made during Mrs Carter's operation.

During the first procedure, a series of checks had not been carried out, and staff only realised their mistake once the wrong prosthetic device had been inserted.

Orthopaedic operations at the hospital were immediately suspended following the incident which the North Glamorgan NHS Trust apologised for.

South Wales Central AM Owen John Thomas has called for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the inquiry.

Owen John Thomas AM is calling for an inquiry

"We need to find out exactly what hours people were working.

"If they were overworking, then we must take action to make sure we can put into place a programme to ensure that in the future we will have adequate staff in our hospitals," he said.

Phillip Williams, director of corporate services for North Glamorgan NHS Trust, said: "Everyone at the trust is desperately sorry for the family.

"We can't say anything more until we've received a coroner's report, assuming there will be a coroner's inquest."

Mrs Carter died at the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff after suffering three heart attacks at home.

The hospital has halted orthopaedic operations

She had spoken after her operation of the stress caused by the mistake.

She said: "All of a sudden the doctors ran around my bed and said there'd been a mistake, a right knee joint had been put in my left leg, and that I'd need another operation to repair it.

"I felt my heart going. I didn't have my inhaler that I need for my angina. If my daughter and husband hadn't been there, I think I would have had a heart attack."

Mr Williams had said the incident was not life-threatening and the second operation was a success.

The Royal College of Surgeons is investigating the incident on behalf of the trust.

Operating team withdrawn

According to the trust, the mistake happened when a system of checks was not followed properly.

The orthopaedic team was temporarily withdrawn from operating - this is standard practice after an error has occurred.

However, because other members of staff were on holiday leave, the hospital was forced to cancel all orthopaedic operations at the hospital.

Trust medical director Dr Terence Morris said: "The ambulance service has been advised that until normal service resumes, any patients requiring emergency orthopaedic surgery will be taken to neighbouring trusts.

"North Glamorgan regrets that it finds itself in this situation but the safety of patients has to be the Trust's prime concern and this is why the action has been taken."

No orthopaedic operations will take place at Prince Charles until Monday 9 September when the position will be reviewed.