Teresa Lonergan
PFD Report
Historic (No Identified Response)
Ref: 2014-0110
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
The patient accumulated a dangerous hoard of prescribed controlled drugs due to a lack of monitoring by healthcare professionals, enabling a fatal overdose.
View full coroner's concerns
_ (1) At the scene the following bottles of morphine were found: 100 ml bottle 1Omg/Smls 10% remaining; dated 21/02/12 100 ml bottle 1Omg/5ml 30% remaining, dated 09/03/12 1 100 ml bottle 1Omg/ml 33% remaining, dated 08//05/12 100 ml bottle 1Omg/smls 75% remaining ? date 100 ml bottle 1Omg/Sml; full, dated 13/07/12 and 3 loose strips of 1Omg Zomorph with 23 of 28 remaining It was calculated that pf the liquid morphine alone was considered there was 340mg available_ The pathologist advised that 100 to 200mg probably be sufficient to cause a fatality_ would
(2) She was a retired matron: She was visited twice daily by her care worker, who opened her bottles for her as she was not able to do so herself. She did not report medical instructions from doctors about administration or monitoring_ Her GP issued repeat prescriptions of: 1Omg Zomorph MR3 capsules bd (issue up to 120), last issued 03/05/12 Morphine sulphate 1Omg/sml qds prn (issue up to 20Omls)last issued 11/07/12. This was in addition to regular benzodiazepines and other non controlled analgesia_ It was reported that she was visited several times a year by the surgery kept in contact on the phone_ There was no report of any monitoring of her consumption of controlled drugs, but the evidence from the general practice was read. She appeared to continue to draw prescriptions but not consume them as prescribed, thus building up a hoard, and providing the means for a deliberate overdose to be taken.
(2) She was a retired matron: She was visited twice daily by her care worker, who opened her bottles for her as she was not able to do so herself. She did not report medical instructions from doctors about administration or monitoring_ Her GP issued repeat prescriptions of: 1Omg Zomorph MR3 capsules bd (issue up to 120), last issued 03/05/12 Morphine sulphate 1Omg/sml qds prn (issue up to 20Omls)last issued 11/07/12. This was in addition to regular benzodiazepines and other non controlled analgesia_ It was reported that she was visited several times a year by the surgery kept in contact on the phone_ There was no report of any monitoring of her consumption of controlled drugs, but the evidence from the general practice was read. She appeared to continue to draw prescriptions but not consume them as prescribed, thus building up a hoard, and providing the means for a deliberate overdose to be taken.
Sent To
- Eltham Park Surgery
Response Status
Linked responses
0 of 1
56-Day Deadline
6 May 2014
About PFD responses
Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 12 September 2012, opened and inquest into the death of Teresa Lonergan; aged 73 years. The inquest concluded on 18'h February 2014. concluded that the deceased had taken her own life_
Circumstances of the Death
Mrs Lonergan was found in her home and beyond resuscitation and certified dead at 10.10 on 04.09.12. She suffered considerable pain from worsening rheumatoid arthritis and had expressed an intention to take her life. She had hoarded prescribed morphine and taken an overdose
Action Should Be Taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you and your practice have the power to take such action_ request that you andl the practice should review prescribing and monitoring of controlled drugs and consider whether any action is appropriate to minimize the risk of hoarded controlled drugs in future_
Similar PFD Reports
Reports sharing organisations, categories, or themes
Related Inquiry Recommendations
Public inquiry recommendations addressing similar themes
Drug Prescription Documentation
Hyponatraemia Inquiry
Pharmacist missed drug contraindications
Poor prescription security
Ensure identified GP for children with deliberate harm concerns discharged from hospital.
Laming Inquiry
GP Continuity of Care Breakdown
Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.