The ‘dreadful failings’ leading up to the death of Robert Hart were felt by all staff at Salford Royal Hospital, an inquest heard.

A neurology expert who led an internal review into Robert’s death apologised once again to the family.

The 26-year-old music lover died after he was punched in the head at Parklife music festival on June 7 2014.

Robert was first taken to North Manchester General Hospital and kept there for ‘a period of time’ before being transferred to Salford Royal.

Earlier this week at the inquest, doctors said if Robert had been transferred to Salford Royal sooner, he may have survived.

Professor Andrew King, who led the review into Robert’s death at Salford Royal, said on Friday ‘there was no question’ Robert was failed by the system.

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Prof King, a consultant neurosurgeon, said: “The dreadful nature of the failing and for our part in the failing, I could not be more sorry. It affected the entire hospital.”

He added: “The problem was failing to recognise there was a need for emergency surgery.

“I have said we missed the pathology and that was our major, major failing,”

Prof King said there were four main flaws in Robert’s care:

  • Staff at North Manchester general being unable to get through to Salford’s switch board

  • Staff being unable to get hold of a registrar

  • Problems with the PAC system

  • The interpretation of Robert’s CT scan

A number of measures have been put in place at the hospital since Robert’s death.

Two registrars are now always on call 24/7 in neurology surgery.The trust has also introduced a co-ordinator to field calls from other centres and a new bleep system to contact registrars.

Police gave their final piece of evidence at the inquest on Friday.

Supt Phil Reade revealed that 251 names had been put forward as potential suspects. Since Robert’s death two men were arrested and another 139 have been interviewed.

Supt Reade said the investigation into the attack was still ‘very much live and active.’ Hundreds of photographs and videos submitted by festival-goers had been examined in the search for Robert’s attacker. Coroner Nigel Meadows said the offender ‘was just one frame out of shot’ in some of the footage.

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