AN INQUEST into the death of a woman found dead two days after being taken by ambulance to Royal Blackburn Hospital was unexpectedly adjourned yesterday.

Michelle Gleave, 36, was discovered in a field near Haslingden Road on February 20 this year.

But, after hearing that she was being prescribed medication from two separate sources, coroner Michael Singleton ordered that more evidence on the subject be heard.

The inquest at Blackburn Town Hall heard that Miss Gleave, of Stansfield Street, Blackburn, discharged herself from A&E following a suspected drug overdose.

Paramedics and nurses said that it was the second time Miss Gleave had attended the unit in 24 hours.

But, before he recorded a verdict, Mr Singleton said he wanted to hear more evidence relating to the drugs she had been prescribed before her death.

The hearing was told that on February 9 she had her prescription of the painkiller Fentanyl increased at Oswald Medical Centre in Oswaldtwistle by Dr Jacob Skaria.

Miss Gleave, who was a former heroin and crack cocaine user, had been prescribed methadone by the Blackburn with Darwen community drugs team two days before.

Both a pathologist and toxicologist said it was their belief that Miss Gleave died from the combined effects of a ‘cocktail’ of prescription drugs, which also included another painkiller dihydrocodeine, an anti-psychotic and an anti-depressant.

Mr Singleton said: “There is one matter that causes me concern that I don’t feel able to resolve and that relates to the evidence of Dr Skaria.

“His evidence was that he saw Michelle Gleave on February 9 and it was he that increased the prescription for Fentanyl.

“That he did so apparently without any knowledge of Michelle Gleave having had an appointment with the community drugs team two days previous, in which they had prescribed methadone.

“Simply recalling Dr Skaria does not resolve the issue with regards to communication between the community drugs team and the GP surgery.

“That is an area that will require in my view further consideration and in these circumstances what I propose to do is to adjourn this inquest part heard.”

He said the inquest would restart in November, with Dr Skaria and Karen Hurst of Blackburn with Darwen alcohol and drug services invited to attend.