TESTS have revealed that a patient found dead in a hospital toilet died of natural causes.

A post mortem examination was carried out after the body of the man was discovered at Gillingham's Medway Maritime Hospital on Monday of week. He had been missing from his ward for 12 hours.

The man, said to be in his 50s, was found in a cubicle on McCullough Ward having fallen from his wheelchair.

Hospital chiefs are carrying out an investigation into why the body was not discovered for so long and staff will be interviewed.

A hospital spokesman said: “The coroner has found the patient died of natural causes. We are continuing to work closely with the family.

“We expect the findings of the investigation into the circumstances around the patient’s death to be available by April.”