Former morphine addict, 81, sadly found dead by carer at Lytham St Annes home had history of opioid overdoses

An inquest into the death of an 81-year-old man with a history of morphine addiction has been adjourned to allow the coroner to obtain more information.

Sydney Henshaw was found unresponsive at his home in Lytham St Annes in March and the primary causes of death was found at a post mortem to be cardio respiratory failure.

But a secondary cause was listed as morphine toxicity, an inquest at Blackpool Town Hall, heard, and Blackpool and Fylde assistant coroner Louise Rae has asked for more information related to that to be supplied before the hearing can be concluded.

The inquest heard that GP records for Mr Henshaw showed he had overdosed on morphine three times since 2018.

He was prescribed the medication twice a day, initially in liquid form and later in the form of tablets, and Ms Rae said she required details of how the administration of the morphine was covered in Mr Henshaw’s care plan.

Mr Henshaw was visited daily by carers and the assistant coroner said the further details she required including evidence from the company responsible for his care as well as a toxicologist.

“I’m not necessarily saying there is anything wrong - I just need the full details,” said the assistant coroner.

She set a four week deadline for the receipt of the additional information and a provisional date of early September for the resumption of the inquest.