A DRUG addict who died in a Bolton hospital was wrongly given a second dose of methadone in one evening because of a "slip of the hand" an inquest heard.

Michael Stocks, of Sycamore Walk, Horwich, died on K2 Ward of the Royal Bolton Hospital in November. He had been admitted after being referred by a GP when he threatened to kill himself because he was disturbed over the death of his uncle.

Michael, who had a history of heroin abuse, had visited his doctor in an "agitated state".

His mother, Lillian Ramsden, told the inquest her son had not taken any drugs that day apart from Temazepam.

When he arrived on the ward, a doctor prescribed methadone which was to have been administered at 10pm.

Staff nurse Michael Liffin and charge nurse John Mayer told the inquest at Salford that it was agreed to give 50 milligrams of the drugat 8.30pm.

And when the drug was given, the record sheet should have been signed in a column indicating the drug had been given at 10pm to prevent a second dose being administered.

But staff nurse Liffin said he had signed the 6pm column because of a "slip of the hand".

And after the nursing shift changed, Michael was administered a further 37 mls.

Both nurses said that methadone is normally administered in one dose daily but thought that 87 mls was not excessive.

The next day Michael was found dead by a staff nurse.

Mrs Ramsden accused Mr Mayer of lying about the timing of the first dose and suggested it had been given at a later time.

Mr Mayer denied this.

Proceeding

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