AN ELDERLY Scarborough woman who was given one of the faulty 3M-made artificial hips died after surgery to replace it, it has emerged.

Jean Sykes, who was 74, had suffered repeated problems with her new hip after her first operation at Scarborough hospital in September 1994.

But during surgery to replace it last November she suffered a heart attack and died eight days later without ever regaining consciousness.

Now, following a Government warning about the faulty hip replacements, her daughter and son-in-law, Denise and Alan Mills, plan to seek legal advice.

Mr Mills, of Newby, Scarborough, said his mother-in-law had already had one hip replaced at the age of 60 with no problems. But after having the 3M hip implanted she had had to make repeated return trips to hospital.

He said: "Without this implant she might still have been alive." Hospital spokeswoman Gilly Collinson said she fully understood the Mills' distress and was inviting them to meet orthopaedic consultants.

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