Two Cancer Patients Die After Overdose Of Medication

A Birmingham hospital has launched an investigation after two cancer patients died after reportedly being given five times the normal dose of medication.

Paul Richards, 35 and Baljit Singh Sunner, 36, died within hours of each other in the oncology ward at Birmingham’s Heartlands hospital. Mr Richards, who has three children, is reported to have been in remission and recovering when he died.

The hospital is refusing to comment on the details but said it had launched an investigation.

A statement on behalf of the hospital’s chief executive, Mark Goldman, said: “Following the deaths of two patients at Heartlands hospital we are carrying out a detailed investigation into the clinical care given to both of these patients.

“This will be presented to both families and to the coroner, and it will form part of the coroner’s inquiries.”

“We have already met with both families, expressed our deepest sympathy and advised them of this investigation. We are keeping in touch with them to provide information as the detail emerges.”

A hospital spokesman said: “The doctor and two nurses involved have not been suspended but are currently not working within the hospital and are deeply upset by the deaths.

“It has already been established that the two men received a higher dosage than normal. The coroner will look at whether the mistake made was directly responsible for the patients dying or a causational factor.”

The men were given the overdoses on July 20, according to the Birmingham Mail. Mr Richards, from Sutton Coldfield, died that night and Mr Sunner, from Small Heath, Birmingham, died the following morning.

The newspaper reported that the patients were given five times the dose they should have received.

The drug was reportedly not for direct cancer medication but to ease the side-effects of treatment.

Mr Richards’ widow, Lisa, told the paper: “Everyone is so shocked and angry and too upset to speak at the moment.” Mr Sunner’s nephew said the family was devastated by his death.

Heartlands is part of the Heart of England NHS foundation trust and is one of the highest performing in the UK.