An investigation has been launched into how an east London grandmother died of a painkiller overdose.
Patricia Wynter, 63, was found dead in her home on the Barking/East Ham border, in Barking Road.
A court heard on Thursday, May 22 that she had been killed by a powerful opioid painkiller only available by prescription.
“I understand that Patricia had been unwell and had been in hospital two days prior to her death,” coroner’s officer Jean Smyth told East London Coroner’s Court.
“She discharged herself from Newham General Hospital. Her granddaughter visited her on the 9th of April but found her deceased.”
A post-mortem examination has given her provisional cause of death as toxicity from the painkiller, used to treat moderate to severe pain.
As Mrs Wynter’s cause of death was unnatural, an inquest will be held in the public interest to investigate how it happened and whether future similar deaths might be preventable, said coroner Nadia Persaud.
“From the family I would like some general background information and if they have any concerns surrounding her death, including the treatment that she received at the hospital shortly before her passing, then I would like details of those concerns,” she said.
She said her investigation would include how Mrs Wynter had come to possess the controlled painkiller.
If her GP had prescribed her painkillers in the six months before her death, the coroner said she would need a full report.
From the hospital, she said she would like a report “to explain the reason for the last admission, her condition in hospital and her condition on discharge”.
Questions would include, “Did she sign a self-discharge form and did she have capacity?”
She would also need to know if the hospital had provided Mrs Wynter with pain medication to take with her.
She said Mrs Wynter’s family would be designated “interested persons” – meaning they have a direct stake in the outcome and have a legal right to view evidence and question witnesses.
The coroner said Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs Newham Hospital, would also likely be granted interested person status.
The final inquest was set for November 10.
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