The parents of Sean Turner, who died at Bristol Children’s Hospital in March last year, have been shocked by the verdict recorded at an inquest into the death of another boy at the same hospital.

Luke Jenkins, seven, of Cardiff, died in similar circumstances to the four-year-old son of Warminster couple Yolanda and Steve Turner, suffering a cardiac arrest on Ward 32 at the hospital.

Sean died eight weeks after corrective surgery for a congenital heart condition, while Luke died just weeks later in April, following surgery to correct a heart complaint he had suffered since birth.

The parents of both children believe their sons died because they did not get appropriate care after surgery.

However, Avon Coroner Maria Voisin recorded a narrative verdict on Luke at Flax Bourton last Thursday. She ruled that she had heard no evidence that there had been any “gross failures” in the care Luke received.

Mrs Turner said: “We were a bit speechless after the verdict. Issues concerning low and unsafe staffing and the CQC report were not addressed by the inquest and so many questions remain unanswered for Luke’s family.

“We were there to support them and hear from the experts. Luke’s family remain unchanged in their opinion that he was failed by the hospital, so they are now exploring litigation.”

Ms Voisin also said that having heard evidence of changes the hospital trust had made in the wake of Luke’s death she would not be writing a report to prevent future deaths.

Mrs Turner added: “We are extremely concerned about Sean’s inquest now, as we are worried we’ll be put through the same thing and it was hard listening to Luke’s verdict.”

The inquest into Sean’s death has been scheduled for January 14 next year. The Turners will be attending a pre-inquest hearing on December 5 to hear if the inquest will be heard before a jury.