Cops launch fresh probe into ‘Dr Opiate’s’ scandal-hit Gosport hospital after hundreds of patient deaths

A DOCTOR could face criminal charges after police today launched a fresh probe into the scandal-hit Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

Dr Jane Barton – dubbed Dr Opiate – oversaw 656 deaths at the hospital in Hampshire between 1999 and 2000, an inquiry report revealed last year.

Police will push ahead with a criminal investigation into scandal-hit Gosport War Memorial Hospital

Patients were found to have had their lives cut short after being prescribed powerful painkillers.

The care provided to those who died between 1987 and 2001 will be the focus of a full criminal investigation, Kent Police said today.

It means the 69-year-old retired GP could now go on trial in relation to the deaths.

Families were told of the decision at a meeting in Fareham shortly before the announcement was made.

More than 450 people had their lives shortened while another 200 were “probably” similarly given opioids between 1989 and 2000 without medical justification, according to the Gosport Independent Panel report released last year.

They should have sorted this out a long time ago

Ian Sandfordmother died at the hospital

In July, the head of serious crime at Kent and Essex Police announced a review of the evidence which had emerged from the report.

Ian Sandford, whose mother Hazel Felicity Sandford died at the hospital, attended the meeting and welcomed the latest investigation.

He told reporters he was “very glad” Kent Police were taking on the investigation, but had reservations about how thorough any fresh inquiry could be because of the time that had passed since the deaths.

He added: “They should have sorted this out a long time ago.”

‘Comfort for the families’

A team lead by Assistant Chief Constable Nick Downing has been assessing the panel’s findings to establish if there is sufficient new evidence to support a further police investigation.

Mr Downing said: “The families of those affected by the events at Gosport War Memorial Hospital are at the heart of everything we do and I hope the news that we will now be carrying out a full investigation is of some comfort to them.

“This investigation is not about numbers, it is about people – specifically those who died at the hospital and the loved ones they have left behind.

“There have been three previous police investigations into deaths at the hospital.

“It was therefore important for us to carry out an initial assessment of the materials obtained by the Gosport Independent Panel to establish if it contained sufficient new information that has not already been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service.

This investigation is not about numbers, it is about people – specifically those who died at the hospital and the loved ones they have left behind

Nick DowningAssistant Chief Constable

“Now that we have launched a full investigation, we will be arranging to meet with the families on a one-to-one basis and invite them to give statements on their own experiences with the hospital, as it is their accounts about the loss of their loved ones that will help put the medical assessments we have into context.

“This is a highly complex and emotive case that some family members have been living with for more than 30 years and I would like to thank them for their continuing patience and understanding during this process.”

Last year’s findings claimed “there was a disregard for human life and a culture of shortening lives of a large number of patients” at the hospital.

‘Dangerous doses’

The report said there was an “institutionalised regime of prescribing and administering ‘dangerous doses’ of a hazardous combination of medication not clinically indicated or justified”.

Relatives of some of those who died at the hospital have campaigned for prosecutions to be brought over the deaths.

Three previous investigations into 92 of the deaths by Hampshire Constabulary resulted in no charges being brought.

In 2010, the General Medical Council ruled that Dr Barton was guilty of multiple instances of professional misconduct relating to 12 patients who died at the hospital.

In a statement last year, Dr Barton said she was a “hard-working doctor” who was “doing her best” for patients in a “very inadequately resourced” part of the NHS.

In November the Government announced NHS whistleblowers were to be given better protection in a bid to improve patient safety in the wake of the scandal.

The Department of Health and Social Care also set out plans to change the law to compel every NHS trust in England to report annually on how concerns raised by staff and patients have been addressed.

Dr Jane Barton was guilty of multiple instances of professional misconduct relating to 12 patients who died at the hospital

Ian Sandord, whose mother Hazel Felicity Sandford died at the Gosport War memorial, speaks to the press outside Ferneham Hall in Fareham, Hampshire

Bridget Devine-Reeves, whose grandmother Elsie Devine died at the Gosport War Memorial Hospital

Elsie Devine, who died at the scandal-hit hospital after being given powerful painkillers

Rhoda Cunningham and husband Arthur, who died at the hospital in 1998

Sheila Gregory who died at the Gosport War Memorial Hospital near Portsmouth in 1999

Robert Wilson died in 1998 after being treated at the hospital

Gladys Richard is among hundreds of patients who died at Gosport

Geoffrey Packman died at Gosport hospital in 1999

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