A CORONER has called for action from the NHS after a Chard man was able to obtain multiple prescriptions of addictive drugs from different doctors.

Norman Carberry, 35, died at his flat in Coles Place on September 11 last year after taking a lethal combination of heroin and alcohol.

An inquest at Wells in April found Mr Carberry had probably never taken heroin before but made the leap after becoming addicted to the tranquilliser benzodiazepine for 15 years.

Investigations revealed he had been able to obtain prescriptions from separate clinics at the same time, prompting East Somerset coroner Tony Williams to write to the Somerset Primary Care Trust, based in Yeovil, demanding answers.

He has asked chief executive Ian Tipney what measures are in place to prevent patients abusing the system and, if safeguards are inadequate, what could be done to prevent a repeat.

"The circumstances of Mr Carberry's death, the addictive behaviour he had previously endured, no doubt played some part in his willingness to even contemplate the self administration of heroin," the coroner said.

"Mr Carberry's death stands a reminder of the ultimate price that may yet still be paid by those who have previously or indeed continue to suffer benzodiazepine addiction."

Norman's mother Heather Carberry, 57 of East Chinnock, says she holds benzodiazepine drugs, and the doctors who prescribed them, responsible for his death.

As the first anniversary of her son's death approaches, she said: "These drugs should be banned. The clinical guidelines say they should only be given for two to four weeks at a time, but my son was given them for years and years.

"He would go back to the doctors with withdrawal symptoms, and they would give him yet more drugs.

"These drugs hook you in, so even after Norm went through all the withdrawal symptoms to stop taking them he was still craving something.

"That's how he became addicted to alcohol, and how he came to take heroin – not to get high but to feel normal."

Mr Carberry was first prescribed Ativan, a benzodiazepine, for anxiety when he was 17, after he was involved in an accident on his scooter which killed an elderly man.

He was given a number of other drugs over the years, including different benzodiazepines, for paranoia, sleeping trouble, anxiety, pain and depression.

In 2002 Mr Carberry moved in with his mother who spent the next four years gradually reducing his intake until he was clean. But he replaced his addiction to pills with alcohol.

Ms Carberry said: "When he was coming off the drugs he was paranoid, angry and had suicidal thoughts. At times he was shaking like someone with Parkinson's disease and he was incontinent.

"Unless you see it for yourself you would never believe what these drugs can do. At one point he didn't leave his room for six months, and I had to black out the windows because he was so sensitive to the light.

"But he wanted to get off the drugs because he knew what they were doing to him.

"He had thoughts of getting a career, he was an intelligent young man, and I'm just so grateful for those few good years we had when he came off the drugs before he died."

Paul Courtney, from the Somerset PCT, said: "Managers with NHS Somerset can confirm that a letter has been received from the East Somerset coroner to the Yeovil headquarters of NHS Somerset. This letter relates to the concerns raised by the East Somerset Coroner following the inquest into the death of 35-year-old Chard man.

"The safety of patients is paramount to NHS Somerset. The Primary Care Trust will be sending a comprehensive written response to the coroner as soon as possible."