Hospital warning to cannabis gran

Mrs Tabram said she would take the drug into hospital

A grandmother who takes cannabis to relieve pain is threatening to take the drug into hospital.

Patricia Tabram, 69, of Co Durham, was found guilty in March last year of possessing and cultivating cannabis.

But she has continued to use the drug and said she would take it into Darlington Memorial Hospital to relieve pain after a kidney operation.

Bosses at the hospital said they would call police if she brings food in which contains illegal drugs.

Mrs Tabram, of Tudhoe Moor, Spennymoor, began taking cannabis four years ago to combat back and neck pain.

She said: "I want to go in and have the operation, but I want to be pain-free. Consultants and doctors have told me that cannabis is the best pain killer in the world.

"If the Trust found a patient to be in possession of an illegal substance, we would be duty-bound to report the incident to the police Durham NHS Trust

"If I am going to die because I won't take modern medication, and I need the operation - I'll have it. But I will prepare my own medication in food."

A spokesman for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said: "If there was a suspicion of a patient bringing an illegal substance into one of our hospitals it would be something we could not condone.

"The Trust has a duty to protect all patients and all drugs on NHS premises have to be prescribed to ensure we safeguard patients.

"If the Trust found a patient to be in possession of an illegal substance, we would be duty-bound to report the incident to the police."

Last year Mrs Tabram was convicted of growing and possessing cannabis and ordered to do 250 hours community work.