Relatives of Gladys Smith have expressed "terrible disappointment" that no-one is to stand trial for the death of the 81-year-old at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in 2002.

At the same time they hope that lessons will have been learned and changes made to ensure that no other family has to suffer a similar heartbreaking tragedy.

The family's lawyer Ed Bailey said: "They are terribly disappointed that the matter has ended like that. All we wish is that this does not happen again and that sufficient measures are taken so it is not repeated."

And Mr. Bailey is also urging Government to make changes to the Fatal Injury Act and brings the level of compensation payments in line with other countries.

Having read Chief Justice Richard Ground's comments, Mr. Bailey said: "The coroner's process needs to be updated and more swiftly applied.

"It appears the Director of Public Prosecutions was slow to bring charges, and with regard to the coroner's process the current Act needs to be reviewed so that the coroner is not fettered in any way."

Mr. Bailey feels that one of the three DPPs who oversaw the matter had "dropped the ball" although he did not feel it was the current DPP who had slipped up.

"We hope for the family's sake that it is something that is never repeated. It has been a lesson to all and we should look at the system," he added.