A Norfolk hospital has denied giving a 28-day drug supply to a woman whose GP suspected she was hoarding medication before her death from an overdose.

During an inquest into the death of Lowestoft woman Sarah Mitchell, it was heard that the James Paget University Hospital had given the 41-year-old 28 days worth of painkillers in the space of just 48 hours.

The claim resulted in Suffolk coroner Darren Stewart issuing the hospital with a report to prevent future deaths, citing fears further people could die if communications between hospitals and GPs were not improved.

However, in its official response to the report, the trust has refuted the supply given to Ms Mitchell following her admissions on consecutive days in August 2022, questioning why it wasn't given the opportunity to clarify this during the inquest.

In a letter to the coroner, chief executive Jo Segasby wrote: "I note that unfortunately the JPUH was not informed or involved in the inquest and were, therefore, unable to provide clarification regarding these concerns."

She said that after receiving the coroner's report, the trust had investigated the incident and found Ms Mitchell had been given a 10-day supply - and not 28 days worth as was claimed during the inquest.

The evidence given at the hearing came from an electronic record of her discharge from hospital which was shared between the Gorleston site and the Rosedale Surgery GP in Lowestoft.

However, Ms Segasby said the discrepancy would have occurred due to it including medication Ms Mitchell was already on prior to her visits.

She wrote: "The list of medication does not necessarily relate to what was supplied by the JPUH."

Ms Mitchell died on September 22, 2022, after being found unresponsive in her home from multiple drug toxicity.

Her GP had previously expressed fears that she was "hoarding" prescriptions, having suffered from chronic back pain following a serious car crash 15 years earlier.