A pensioner who underwent a hip replacement operation at Medway Maritime Hospital was sent home with someone else's heart medication.

David Hargood, 65, was discharged from the Gillingham-based hospital with a bag full of medication to help him during his recovery.

Mr Hargood, of Ocelot Court, Luton Road, Chatham, said he has suffered side effects from taking the drugs - including swollen ankles, breathlessness, dizzy spells and diarrhoea.

It was only after taking the heart pills for two weeks, that he noticed the packet had a label with another man's name.

Mr Hargood said: "It was not until I dropped the box that I noticed there was another man's name on them, another David, who was actually in the same bay as me on Pembroke ward."

Mr Hargood stopped taking the pills immediately and called the hospital.

"While I was in there, staff tried to give me some IV fluids which were meant for the other David, until I told them I should not be having it..." - hospital patient David Hargood

He said: "I was initially told it was impossible for me to have someone else's medication. I was told the matron would call me back that day, but no one ever did, I had to call again the next day."

Mr Hargood said he was eventually called back and told to get advice from his GP or the out-of-hours Medocc service.

He was told he would probably not need any treatment, but should ring them back if he took a turn for the worse.

The following day, Mr Hargood called 111 because he felt breathless and paramedics were sent to check on him.

He added: "I think the mistake happened because they are so short staffed at the hospital.

"While I was in there, staff tried to give me some IV fluids which were meant for the other David, until I told them I should not be having it.

"This whole thing has delayed my recovery process. I was doing OK, but now the side effects I'm experiencing have slowed me down."

A spokesman for Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said: "The trust's surgical home team visited Mr Hargood on Thursday morning, the day after we were informed of the medication error.

"Our staff took observations and ensured no ill effects had occurred. Over the past week we have kept in contact with Mr Hargood and addressed his concerns.

"The matter is being investigated and we will be discussing the outcome with Mr Hargood directly."