Mum vows justice over son's drug shortage death

The mother of a man who died after a pharmacy ran out of supplies of his epilepsy drug has said she will "fight for changes" to make sure other lives are not lost.

David Crompton fell and suffered a fatal heart attack after Midway Pharmacy in Pudsey, Leeds, instead gave him an "IOU" note for the anti-convulsant tablets Tegretol.

Mary Hirst said action was needed, adding: "The fact is that people are not getting their life-saving medication and somebody dies because of it."

The Department of Health and Social Care said it was committed to considering any lessons which could be learned. Medway Pharmacy said the "availability of vital medication is of ongoing concern."

Mrs Hirst, from Cleckheaton, said her son had been waiting for his medication but was "being put off all the time" in the lead-up to his death on 13 December.

While the pharmacy had delivered other items to Mr Crompton's home, a manuscript "IOU" had been left for Tegretol.

An inquest found that without his medication, his epileptic condition "was likely to destabilise and give rise to fits".

Mr Crompton had suffered another fall just months earlier in April, which coroner Kevin McLoughlin found had also "occurred when he was left without his essential medication".

report to prevent future deaths issued on December 31, West Yorkshire senior coroner Mr McLoughlin said pharmacists should have "clear designated systems" to deal with such shortages.

Mrs Hirst said: "I'm angry and very hurt. He's been let down by people who were entrusted to look after him.

"No one should have to go searching for their own medication."

The Epilepsy Society said it had written to the health secretary following Mr Crompton's death.

The society said it had been "campaigning relentlessly" for the government to carry out a "full review of the medicines supply chain" but the death had "brought new urgency to the campaign."

In the letter to Wes Streeting, chief executive Clare Pelham said: "It is critical that the global complexities that are contributing to shortages in the UK are resolved at speed so that another family does not experience a tragic bereavement."

Mrs Hirst said: "I don't want someone to have to go through what we have. My life has been destroyed.

"He was 44 and had so much ahead of him.

"Nobody should experience this and be let down by the system. We will fight for his cause and get him the justice he deserves."

In a statement, Midway Pharmacy said: "We were shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Mr Crompton.

"The national issue of the ready availability of vital medication is of ongoing concern to all of us in the pharmacy profession.

"We are committed to complying with all investigations, including with regulatory agencies, to ensure a thorough understanding of the issues involved and recognise that this issue needs further urgent examination within the profession."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Our deepest sympathies are with David's family and friends in this tragic case.

"We are committed to considering any lessons that can be learned to prevent tragedies similar to this in future.

"We are aware of Epilepsy Action's concerns and will respond in due course."

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