A MAN whose parents have dementia has slammed a pharmacist after he discovered someone’s else’s medication as well as his family’s.

Darren Hughes, from Barrow, went to the Boots pharmacy in Portland Walk to collect medication for parents Kathleen, 77, and Douglas, 89.

But rather than his mum’s usual tablets, he was given a bag containing simvastatin (lowers cholesterol), tamsulosin (reduces an enlarged prostate) and clopidogrel (a blood thinner) that had another patient’s name and address and contact details on them.

Mr Hughes was out picking up the prescription on Monday instead of his mother because she had undergone a cataract operation and needed assistance.

Once he was back at his parents to sort out the medication into the appropriate tablet organiser, he was shocked to find that the medication provided to him was for a completely different person.

Mr Hughes said: “They could kill someone doing this, it’s not good enough for a high street retailer to be making mistakes like this. It’s unacceptable.

“If it were a younger coupl,e I’d be more likely to let it go, but it’s my parents.

“They’re an elderly couple who both suffer with dementia so mistakes like this could end up being fatal.”

Mr Hughes went back to the store to get the right medication and to complain, pointing out that his parents were vulnerable and would take their medicine regardless of what was given to them.

He also called the people whose medication he had received - as their phone number was also on the address labels in the bag he was given.

Mr Hughes added: “I ended up phoning the gentleman whose medication we received and his carer, who’s also his wife, and they said it wasn’t the first time this has happened. I’m absolutely gobsmacked that this has happened more than once.

“Usually the carer or myself sorts the medication out once it’s been picked up.

“We organise them into their weekly dosages and that’s it, they’ll take them as and when they need them.

“So if these were the wrong tablets then they’d end up taking them and as a result could be in serious danger if they were the wrong ones.

“It really just isn’t good enough, especially if this has happened a few times to the other gentleman.”

The Mail approached the Portland Walk store as well as Boots UK’s head office for a comment, who said that an investigation is under way.

Mr Hughes added that he will be very cautious in the future when it comes to his parents medication.

He said: “Usually it’s either my mum or a care assistant who picks up the medication.

“But from now on I’ll be the one picking it up so I can make personally sure that we have the right pills.”