A GRIEVING daughter is planning to sue health bosses after claiming her father was 'over prescribed' anti-psychotic drugs.

Cheryl Byrne spoke out after her story was last night told on BBC1's Panorama programme.

Eric Hollingworth, who died on Saturday aged 81, was prescribed the drugs during the final three years of his life after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

The grandfather-of-five was initially put in two care homes.

Mr Hollingworth, a former chartered engineer, then spent 21 months on Burnley General Hospital's mental health ward until somewhere suitable could be found.

His family said in November last year, Mr Hollingworth was moved to Crawshaw Hall nursing home, Burnley Road, Crawshawbooth.

There they claimed he was over sedated with anti-psychotic drugs which had side effects and caused falls as well as respiratory problems.

The owner of Crawshaw Hall said Mr Hollingworth had been well cared for and that medication was prescribed by doctors and consultants.

Lancashire Care NHS Trust, which oversees mental health care in East Lancashire, said it could not comment on individual cases, Mrs Byrne, of Todmorden, whose father was eventually moved to a care home in Leeds, is now being represented by Manchester-based clinical negligence specialists Pannone LLP, and is looking into taking legal action.

In the Panorama programme, focusing on the use of anti-psychotic medication in care homes, Mrs Byrne told the cameras of her struggle to find suitable care for her father.

Mrs Byrne said: "The drugs they were giving him made him stand up and sit back down a lot, which they saw as confusion and that made them give him even more.

"Whichever home or hospital he was in, there was nothing we could do about it."

Crawshaw Hall owner Harry Karroo said Mr Hollingworth had been well cared for during his stay at the home.

He said: "Medication is prescribed by doctors and consultants, not the home, and we cannot comment on that."

A spokesman for Lancashire Care NHS Trust, said: "Panorama is a reputable programme which rightly seeks to highlight issues of public interest.

"The trust cannot comment on individual cases.

"However, we have clear policies and procedures in place to respond to any concerns raised by individuals or their families."