17 Mar 2021
A police investigation into hundreds of lives allegedly shortened by the wrongful administration of opioids at an NHS hospital has been expanded to include the review of 15,000 death certificates.
The 2018 report into the deaths of at least 456 elderly patients at Gosport War Memorial Hospital between 1989 and 2000 had found that despite patients not being sent to the NHS hospital for end-of-life care often for rehabilitation or convalescence they had been given powerful opioids intended to ease the pain of dying patients.
A former nurse at the hospital had claimed that “euthanasia was practised by the nursing staff”, an allegation that was reportedly also made by five other people.
Dr Opiate Jane Barton was held responsible for policies which led to deaths
Hundreds died at Gosport War Memorial Hospital between 1988 and 2000
Inquiry said 450 people had lives cut short after allegedly being given opiates
Also said another 200 probably also given opioids between 1989 and 2000
Now, Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate are managing the investigation
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image captionThe families of Cliff Houghton, Dulcie Middleton, Brian Cunningham and Eva Page are calling for new inquests
More than 15,000 death certificates are being examined by police investigating the deaths of patients at a hospital.
An inquiry found 456 patients died after being given opiates at Gosport War Memorial Hospital between 1987 and 2001, but no charges have been brought.
An independent investigation, led by Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, is reviewing millions of pages of evidence.
About 150 detectives and staff are expected to be involved in the probe.
Police began the inquiry in 2019 into 700 deaths after the Gosport Independent Review Panel found there was a disregard for human life at the hospital in Hampshire.
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