A hospital, officially opened less than a month ago by Prime Minister Tony Blair, is to change its procedures after a woman died because of neglect by overworked emergency staff.

Maureen Matla, 47, died three days after being admitted to the accident and emergency department of the £97m University Hospital of North Durham.

An inquest ruled mistakes were made by under-pressure staff which contributed to her death.

Hospital bosses have pledged to change procedures after the coroner complained about staffing levels and bed shortages.

Tony Blair opened the hospital in July

The hospital has been beset by problems since it began treating patients 16 months ago.

A spokesman for the hospital said: "The North Durham Healthcare Trust deeply regrets the death of Mrs Matla.

"We are carrying out a major investigation and are taken action based on the findings to avoid a similar situation in the future."

North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle wrote to the hospital urging action after hearing Mrs Matla was neglected by busy A&E staff at the hospital - built under a private finance initiative.

Mrs Matla, from Tantobie in County Durham, was not given a proper assessment when she was admitted as a drugs overdose victim.

'Substandard performance'

She was not monitored as she waited in a cubicle and had stopped breathing by the time she was eventually seen by a doctor on 7 January.

Nurses at the hospital said it was their busiest night in 20 years and there was a shortage of beds.

Mrs Matla's family is now considering a negligence claim against the hospital trust.

In recording a verdict of death by misadventure, contributed to by accident, Mr Tweddle said: "The failures that took place that night led to Maureen being deprived of basic medical attention.

"The hospital in general and the nursing staff in particular know that their performance was substandard on this occasion."