A WINCHESTER hostel tenant overdosed on a prescribed drug after walking out on the latest in a string of hospital stays, an inquest heard.

Geoffrey ‘Timmy’ Kempster was allowed to leave Winchester hospital and return to his supported flat in West View House, despite staff warning they were unable to treat his lung condition.

The 52-year-old struggled to breathe and suffered chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He was prescribed depressants including methadone and visited Royal Hampshire County Hospital six times in the five weeks leading to his death on September 14.

The inquest heard he had made a “remarkable recovery” after his last admission and was able to walk out of hospital for cigarettes.

But he wanted to leave hospital, took off his assisted breathing mask and was “verbally and physically aggressive” towards staff, said consultant geriatrician Dr James Croft-Baker.

Doctors recommended he stay but allowed him to leave at around 3pm on September 13. He left, picked up his methadone prescription from Boots and returned to the hostel, in Hyde Gate.

Family found him “slumped in a chair” in the early hours of the next morning and he was rushed to hospital.

Doctors attempted to resuscitate him but he died at around 4am. Blood tests found potentially toxic levels of methadone in his system along with a range of other depressants, but the coroner ruled out a deliberate overdose.

Dr Croft-Baker said he was unaware of the hostel’s request until after the discharge of Mr Kempster, formerly of Portal Road, Highcliffe.

“That was his consistent wish,” he said. “He was able to weigh up and decide the risks involved at that time.

“It’s important to recognise that; to compromise with a plan that would provide him at least some opportunity, rather than come up with a confrontational plan where he may not have taken the steroids or antibiotics.

“I can’t think how we could have kept him in.”

Nathan Johnson, the hostel’s general manager, said staff could not offer the medical care he needed.

Senior central Hampshire coroner Grahame Short recorded a verdict of drug-related death.