EMBARRASSED Peter Tizzard wondered what the doctor had ordered when he was mistakenly given a prescription for tablets to help with having sex.

Cancer patient Mr Tizzard, 73, from Weymouth takes a range of medicines as part of ongoing treatment – but something to help with impotence is definitely not on the list.

Mr Tizzard, and wife Maureen, had a joke about the blunder, but raised concerns about being given a prescription with another patient’s details from Cross Road surgery.

Semi-retired businessman Mr Tizzard, 73, collected his prescriptions from the surgery and didn’t realise he had also been given a rogue one until he got to Boots chemist in Portland Road.

Grandfather Mr Tizzard, of Lydwell Close, said: “Everything I’m prescribed is free but the girl behind the counter at the chemist pointed out that I would have to pay for one of the items which was on a private prescription. I didn’t know what she was talking about.

“She said: “It’s for sex’. I said that it couldn’t be for me but the girl said I’d better hang on to it in case I change my mind.”

It was not until Mr Tizzard got home and studied the prescription for Sildenafil (Viagra) that he discovered it was made out to another man entirely.

Mr Tizzard, who is being treated for prostate cancer, said: “The prescription had a local address on it and I thought in my confusion it was where I had to pick it up from.

“Our neighbour came in, a retired nurse, and told me the prescription was for someone else and a mistake had been made.

“Poor chap, I had been given his prescription along with mine. My wife got excited for a little while and thought I was being given sex pills.”

He added: “Joking aside there’s a serious side to it and I have been given another patient’s prescription with his details on it.

“I rang the surgery and I returned it to them later.

“What happened was wrong. It’s a private matter and they should be more careful.”

Mrs Tizzard said: “I was quite surprised to say the least.

“We were laughing about it but it’s not very nice really.”

The Cross Road surgery refused to comment, stating it would affect patient confidentiality.