AN inquiry has been launched after a 20-year-old student was treated for a methadone overdose when he was dying as a result of a fractured skull.

An inquest heard that Steven John Wynne was discharged from Blackburn Royal Infirmary and Blackpool Victoria Hospital before medical staff discovered the true cause of his condition.

But staff at Blackburn Infirmary could not save his life when they eventually admitted him to a high dependency unit a week after he was injured in a fall.

Today Steven's family revealed they had complained to the General Medical Council about the case following talks with their solicitors.

The inquest was told that X-rays which revealed a massive fracture of the skull were not taken until he had collapsed unconscious at the hospital on his second visit.

And the Home Office pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination confirmed that had the fracture and bleeding in the brain been diagnosed sooner it is possible something could have been done to prevent his death.

Dr John Rutherford told Steven's family that the symptoms which were presented to doctors at both hospitals would have "set alarm bells ringing" with him.

Speaking after the inquest Mr Warburton, a registered nurse, of Corbridge Court, Clitheroe, said: "Both hospitals were allegedly treating Steven for a methadone overdose but we don't think he had taken any methadone or alcohol for at least two days."

Steven's mother, Denise Warburton, said there was no question of seeking financial gain. "We just want someone to admit that they screwed up," she said. "We feel badly let down by the health service."

The inquest heard that Steven, a former heroin addict who was on a methadone reduction programme, had fallen when he tried to climb into his first floor flat at Fairways Court, Wilpshire, after leaving his keys at the pub on Sunday May 19.

His half sister, Leanne Warburton, who lived in the flat below said Steven seemed very confused and complained of headaches and pains in his neck.

During the week his eyes became extremely bloodshot and by Thursday she said he was "talking rubbish" and on several occasions she saw him drinking methadone.

Steven was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary on Friday. Leanne said he told the doctors about his headache and pains in his neck.

Mrs Warburton said she was told by staff at Blackburn on Saturday that Steven had been discharged and had told them he was going home to Chorley. While she was on the phone they said he had been admitted to Blackpool Victoria.

"We went over to Blackpool where they were about to discharge Steven," said Mrs Warburton. "We took him back to Blackburn Royal Infirmary over the weekend and they began a detoxification programme."

Mrs Warburton said she later received a call to say Steven had been taken to the high dependency unit after staff realised something serious was wrong. He died on Wednesday May 29.

Recording a verdict of accidental death coroner Michael Singleton said: "It is tragic that he didn't say that he had banged his head. Had he done that a whole new light may have been placed on the situation."

A spokeswoman for the General Medical Council said all complaints they dealt with were strictly confidential and could not be discussed.

Nobody from Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust was available to comment.

Mum so proud of son

STEVEN Wynne was a bright, intelligent lad who had just completed the first year of a history degree at the University of Central Lancashire. The former pupil of Parklands High School, Chorley, had been a recovering drug-user for some time and was taking minimal amounts of methadone in the successful fight against his former heroin addiction.

His mum, Denise Warburton, said: "He was moving forward with his life in a very positive way. I am very proud of the way he was dealing with his problems and getting on with his life. He wanted to teach in Third World countries when he graduated. History was his passion and he had worked very hard at university."

Denise was quick to praise staff at the intensive care unit in Blackburn Royal Infirmary, where Steven fell into unconsciousness and died. "They were wonderful. They have such a difficult job and we have nothing but praise for the way they treated him," she said.

Locals at the Wilpshire Hotel were so shocked to hear of Steven's death that they held a charity night to raise cash for the intensive care unit. Landlady Claire Buck said: "He was a bright and popular lad. This is a tragedy made more awful by the fact that it perhaps could have been avoided."