Wrong Medication

A police investigation has been launched after claims that a 71-year-old man was given the wrong medication before he died in hospital.

George Pickard was recuperating at Leeds General Infirmary after suffering an infection he picked up following a hip-replacement operation.

Mr Pickard, from Leeds, died on Sunday when it is thought he may have been given the wrong drugs. A post-mortem examination has been carried out and further tests are under way.

A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police said: "The coroner has referred the death of a patient at Leeds General Infirmary to police and we are currently looking into the matter."

A spokesman for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust added: "We would like to offer Mr Pickard's family our deepest condolences at this time.

"The coroner is investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr Pickard's death and we are co-operating fully with this. Until this investigation is complete we are unable to comment. We will keep Mr Pickard's family fully informed."

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Rachelle Mahapatra, a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell said: "This case highlights the serious consequences of giving patients the wrong medication. Strict procedures should be followed to ensure that a tragedy of this nature does not happen again."