Coroner Warns Pharmacy Shortages Led to Death

David Crompton, a 44-year-old man with epilepsy, tragically died on December 13 after a fall exacerbated by the absence of his medication, Tegretol, which his pharmacy could not supply. A coroner's inquest revealed that Crompton had previously faced a similar situation in April, when he was without the medication for about 10 days, leading to increased seizure activity. Senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin emphasized the need for pharmacies to establish clear systems for managing medication shortages and criticized the reliance on family members to source essential drugs. He stated that Crompton's death highlights systemic failures that could lead to future tragedies if not addressed. The coroner has issued a report urging Midway Pharmacy and the General Pharmaceutical Council to take action to prevent further incidents. This situation underscores a pressing need for improvements in the medication supply chain for patients with critical health needs.