A surgeon admitted he did not properly check the notes of a man who died of thirst in hospital, an inquest heard today.

Kane Gorny, 22, of Weir Road, Balham, needed regular medication to keep hydrated after undergoing surgery for a brain tumour.

He was sent to St George's Hospital, Tooting, for a hip replacement but died three days after the operation on May 28.

Philip Stott, orthopaedic specialist in St George's Hospital, Tooting, said he performed a hip replacement before looking properly through his notes.

Westminster Coroner's court heard he knew Mr Gorny had suffered from a brain tumour, but did not know of his complex hormone problems.

He said: "I had a quick flick through the notes but I didn't look at them properly.

"My role was just the operation, I thought that had all been sorted out and I assumed everything had been put in place."

He said he assumed the nurses would have maintained his fluids, because it was routine.

The court heard Mr Gorny became violent, calling the police and his mother when he was refused a drink.

At the time hospital workers suggested he could have taken illicit drugs or was suffering from alcohol withdrawal, with nobody pinpointing the problem on dehydration.

Mr Stott said: "My concern was for safety, we have had patients try to jump out of windows and hang themselves.

"I didn't follow it up, I went home. I should have done, but I thought the main issue was safety.

"In my mind I thought we had a plan, we have got the psychologist this is more behavioural for him."

Dr Konstantinos Karas, a hospital clerk, received a phone call from hospital staff saying a patient's blood was showing high levels of sodium.

But no name was given and he thought it was an elderly patient not getting enough water.

He said: "I stated it was unlikely I would have time to come to the ward, I had several patients to see on the A&E ward. I had no knowledge he was being aggressive."

The inquest, which is due to conclude on Thursday, continues.