Nineteen suspects identified by police examining 456 drug deaths at NHS hospital

17 May 2023 , 11:22

567     0

A spokeswoman for families of those have died at the hospital in the timeframe speaks at a previous briefing (Image: Daily Mirror)

Police have identified 19 suspects as part of a new inquiry into hundreds of deaths at a hospital.

Some 456 patients died after being given opiates inappropriately at Gosport War Memorial Hospital in Hampshire between 1987 and 2001, an independent panel found.

A new criminal investigation is being led by Kent Police after three previous ones by Hampshire Constabulary resulted in no prosecutions.

Now police have identified 19 suspects, and interviews under caution with these people are ongoing.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Jerome, of Kent Police, said the investigation was the "largest and most complex of its nature in the history of UK policing".

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Arthur Cunningham, pictured with wife Rhoda, died at the Gosport War Memorial Hospital in 1998 (PA)

He added: "Every single patient who died is important to us and their individual cases must be reviewed in full in order for an assessment to be made on their evidential strength.

"We also owe it to their families to investigate each death to the same high standard, and at the conclusion of the investigation all families who want to will be told everything we discovered about the nature of their care.

"We remain committed to building and maintaining trust and confidence among them and will continue to keep them updated on the progress of the investigation."

Ken Wooley lost his father John (in the photo held by Ken) who was admitted to the hospital (DAILY MIRROR)

Detectives are now examining more than 750 patient records as part of Operation Magenta after families, who have also campaigned for judge-led "Hillsborough-style" inquests, repeatedly called for justice.

Detectives have also so far assessed more than three million pages of documents and taken witness statements from 1,150 family members.

The 2018 report found there was a "disregard for human life".

Dr Jane Barton was found guilty of failings in her care of 12 patients (PA Archive/PA Images)

Dulcie Middleton's family is calling for fresh investigations into the deaths (Family Handout)

The only person to face disciplinary action so far is Dr Jane Barton, who oversaw the practice of prescribing on the wards.

The medic was found guilty of failings in her care of 12 patients between 1996 and 1999.

She was not struck off the medical register, though, choosing to retire after the findings were published.

Speaking in 2018, Dr Barton said she was a "hardworking doctor" who was "doing her best" for patients in a "very inadequately resourced" part of the NHS.

Disabled woman paralysed after falling from wheelchair on plane walkway dies

Bradley Jolly