According to an independent report, 450 Gosport hospital deaths could have been avoided after life-shortening opioids were reportedly given to elderly patients who did not need them.
The damning report found that a GP working at the hospital, Dr Jane Barton, routinely overprescribed drugs to patients in the 1990s, and consultants who were aware of her actions did not intervene. Further, nurses and pharmacists would have known that the high levels of opioids administered would not always have been appropriate, and they too failed to stop the deaths.
After years of the families campaigning and suffering over the Gosport hospital deaths, the report has finally confirmed what they already knew.
Gosport hospital deaths: what happened?
The independent report looked into 1,500 Gosport hospital deaths and found that 456 patients were inappropriately administered life-shortening opioid drugs that they did not need.
A further 200 patients may also have had their lives shortened as well.
Despite alarms being raised by senior nurses as far back as 1991 over the use of diamorphine (heroine) for patients who were not in pain, the nurses were reportedly warned to not take their concerns any further following a staff meeting.
Patients were being administered diamorphine through a syringe-driver that was attached to patients’ backs, delivering a constant dosage of the life-shortening drug.
Dr Jane Barton’s role in the Gosport hospital deaths
Drr Jane Barton worked at Gosport War Memorial Hospital for 12 years. The independent report concluded that Dr Barton had routinely overprescribed drugs to patients in the 1990s.
In 2010, Dr Barton was found guilty of serious professional misconduct, with her medication practices described as “excessive, inappropriate and potentially hazardous”. Surprisingly, despite the findings, which involved the deaths of 12 patients under her care, she was allowed to continue to practice under certain conditions.
For two decades, the families of hundreds of loved ones who died at the hospital have tirelessly campaigned for a proper public inquiry into the Gosport hospital deaths which has finally taken place.
Criminal prosecutions into the Gosport hospital deaths
The findings of the independent report may lead to criminal prosecutions against Dr Barton and perhaps other members of staff over the Gosport hospital deaths who failed to take appropriate action.
It’s understood that the police and the CPS are in discussions over the scandal.
In a statement, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:
“Nothing I say today will lessen the anguish and pain of families who have campaigned for 20 years after the loss of a loved one, but I can at least on behalf of the government and NHS apologise for what happened and what they have been through”.
Group Action Lawyers investigations
The Group Action Lawyers are investigating the legal issues surrounding this scandal for families who have been affected.
For no obligation advice, you can contact the firm here.
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