A doctor who prescribed powerful diuretics to a grandmother who later died of thirst at Maidstone Hospital has delivered an emotional apology to her family.

An inquest at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone today, was told how Edna Thompson, from Harrietsham, died in September last year after being admitted to hospital with suspected malignant glaucoma.

Despite family repeatedly raising concerns about her becoming dehydrated, the 85-year-old went into renal failure and died eight days later.

The court heard the former librarian from Harrietsham had chronic kidney disease, but this condition was stable at the time she was admitted to hospital. was prescribed diamox, a drug to lower eye pressure on September 16, 2015 but was also given mannitol, a powerful drug normally used sparingly when such first-line drugs are not working.

She was prescribed diamox, a drug to lower eye pressure on September 16, 2015 but was also given mannitol, a powerful drug normally used sparingly when such first-line drugs are not working.

Glaucoma fellow Dr Albrna Dardzhikova, who prescribed the medicine on an ongoing basis, told an inquest today she did so because it was the only drug that reduced pressure in Mrs Thompson's eye, which was causing her agony.

She said: "It was to bring the pressure down because she was screaming from the pain."

The inquest heard on September 17, an ultrasound revealed a mass in the patient's eye.

Dr Dardzhikova also said she did not issue directions for Mrs Thompson's hydration and electrolyte levels to be monitored, considering this to be a standard part of patient care and intended for daily reviews to be carried out.

When asked by senior coroner Patricia Harding whether this in hindsight was something she should have done, she said simply: "Yes."

Turning to Edna Thompson's family, an emotional Dr Dardzhikova, said: "I just want to apologise and express my condolences to the family and to say I am really sorry for your loss."

Also giving evidence was Mr Ejaz Ansari, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon, who advised Dr Albrna Dardzhikova.

He said it was "unusual" for the short term drug to be continued as it was from September 16 to 22 with no stop date in the prescription issued by Dr Albrna Dardzhikova.

He said: "It is a diuretic that could put more pressure on the kidney. It could cause dehydration but also affect mineral balances as well. I would expect fluids and minerals to be monitored with regular blood tests."

"I just want to apologise and express my condolences to the family and to say I am really sorry for your loss." -Dr Dardzhikova

The court heard from several nurses who were working on Mercer Ward at the time of the death. Laura Wise, who was a nurse at the time, said staff did not always monitor fluid intake and output as a matter of course and did not at the time know monitoring should be prioritised for mannitol.

In addition, staff often meet with family to discuss a patient's requirements

Mrs Thompson's family allege a fluid intake chart was not set up until the 22nd, the day of her death.

Agency Nurse Bindya Sunu was on Mercer Ward the day before Mrs Thompson developed an acute kidney injury and prior to that dehydration.

Ms Sunu said she was dealing with nine patients, eight of whom required significant levels of care.

She said when she arrived she found Mrs Thompson drowsy but still responsive. She found a fluid chart had not been started but began a food chart, giving her patient several drinks during the day.

In the evening she was involved in an altercation with Mrs Thompson's daughter Ann Brown who said her mother was dehydrated. This was passed onto doctors who carried out a review of her condition.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s own investigation found a catalogue of errors in failing to prevent and act on the mother-of-three’s dehydration, including that she was given drugs known to cause thirst longer than she should have been.

Despite health chiefs making a grovelling apology, Mrs Thompson's relatives have previously said they will not have closure until the inquest is concluded into the sequence of events leading up to her death.

The inquest is expected to last for three days.