AN intravenous drug user died of blood poisoning after being admitted to Leighton Hospital with a hip complaint.

Christopher Mulvey, 44, of Ruskin Road, Crewe, was admitted on December 1 last year complaining of severe pain in his right hip.

An inquest at Crewe heard Mr Mulvey, a qualified civil engineer, had a history of Class A drug use stretching back 20 years, and was known to inject into his groin.

His father, Patrick Mulvey, a retired HGV driver of Grosvenor Court, Crewe, told the hearing his son's hip problems had begun two or three years ago. He said: 'It was the pain that got the better of him in the end. The only thing that could ease the pain was more drugs.'

Mr Mulvey had been referred to a clinic at Leighton Hospital by his GP, Dr Mark Watson, in December 2003, and began a course of antibiotics to combat a suspected arthritic infection in his right hip. But when referred to substance misuse care worker Robert Sayburn in September, Mr Mulvey, also Hepatitis B and C positive, was still limping badly from the pain.

Despite treatment, the pain grew worse and he was admitted to Leighton Hospital Accident and Emergency ward on December 1.

Tests for an infection in the hip proved inconclusive, but his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to Intensive Care on December 3.

A decision was taken to operate on December 4 to clean out any infection found. Only a small amount of infected fluid was found in the joint and Mr Mulvey died on December 5.

Consultant anaesthetist Dr Alistair Martin told the inquest: 'The diagnosis was acute septicaemia secondary to septicaemic arthritis in the hip.

'Although it is impossible to say for certain what the cause was, on the balance of probabilities it is likely intravenous drug use led to the infection.'

Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.