Veteran singer David Essex is still distraught over the death of his mother, insisting Britain's National Health Service (Nhs) staff let her down in her hour of need.

The Rock On hitmaker's mum Dolly was admitted to hospital for a routine leg operation in 2007 at the age of 82, but she caught the potentially deadly Mrsa (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infection while in the medical centre and passed away.

Essex refuses to be bitter or blame Nhs officials for her death, but he is still deeply saddened by the tragedy.

He tells the U.K.'s Weekend magazine, "She was one of those unfortunate people the Nhs gave Mrsa to. And it was awful. This was a lady who never had a Lemsip (cold medication) in her life. I don't want to have a poke at the Nhs, but as far as Mum was concerned they let her down. Sometimes I think I should feel bitter, but I can't."