AN ELDERLY man died after A&E staff misdiagnosed his condition, ignored his relatives' pleas for help and dragged him about in a chair.

Four hours after he was discharged, Jamnadas Kapadia was dead having suffered massive internal bleeding from a ruptured liver tumour.

His family is now demanding a public inquiry into the neglect and racism they claim to have suffered at Northwick Park Hospital.

The family's ordeal began on the evening of October 5, after Mr Kapadia, 71, arrived having at his Kenton home.

With him were his wife, Niramala, and three children.

Mrs Kapadia, 66, was not offered an interpreter despite speaking little English and other family members were warned off with threats that 'security would be called'.

Mr Kapadia was taken out of the hospital, but collapsed moments later. He was confirmed dead just before 9am.

CCTV footage shows two nurses dragging the patient out of A&E and into a waiting area. "He was treated like an animal," said his daughter, Anita Dardarwala, 37.

North West London Hospitals NHS Trust said that Mr Kapadia, treated for low blood pressure, was discharged without a confirmed diagnosis. "An investigation is underway," said a spokeswoman.

The hospital has also apologised to a woman after a lack of staff resulted in test results going missing. Diane Levy's consultant told her that although she needed an appointment there were no staff to make one.

The mum-of-two, from Badminton Close, Harrow, has described her visit to the outpatients department two weeks ago as a farce.

A spokeswoman apologised, saying 'a lack of admin staff has contributed to inadequate service'.