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Gosport MP criticised for failing to represent constituents
MP ATTACKS INQUIRY
ON HOSPITAL DEATHS
ON HOSPITAL DEATHS
Gosport MP Peter Viggers has criticised the
decision to hold a coroner’s inquiry into 10 of an
original 92 suspicious deaths at the Gosport War
Memorial Hospital in the late 1990’s. He said that as
the police had decided no action was required, the
matter should be “allowed to rest”.
However, relatives of those who died at the hospital have criticised their local MP for failing to
represent his constituents. Gillian Mackenzie's 91-year-old mother went into Gosport War
Memorial Hospital in 1998 for four weeks' rehabilitation following a hip operation. She died 10
days later. Her daughter claims her death was due to medical negligence.
She then spent a year trying to persuade Peter Viggers and her own constituency MP,
Eastbourne’s Nigel Waterson, to take up her case against the hospital where her mother died.
Mrs Mackenzie said: "They have just been dismissive, totally dismissive. They should at least
take a look at the papers. Mr Viggers should take an interest in matters involving his own
constituency." She made an official complaint against Viggers to the Conservative Party.
Mrs Mackenzie's mother, Gladys Richards, was transferred to the hospital on 11 August, 1998,
12 days after a hip operation. Mrs Mackenzie alleges she was given incorrect medicine and care.
She turned to the local police. After two investigations the matter was sent to the Crown
Prosecution Service, which found there was insufficient evidence.
The new inquiry will look at the cases of 10 elderly patients at the Gosport War Memorial Hospital
who died unexpectedly after being given high doses of sedatives and painkillers. The Justice
Secretary Jack Straw granted the hearing last year. Relatives of 92 patients who died at the
community hospital have fought for the matter to be properly investigated, believing their relatives’
deaths were never properly explained.
John White, a solicitor from Blake Lapthorn, the firm representing four of the ten families, said:
“The allegations in this case are of the most serious kind. Several investigations have taken place
but none has managed to get a resolution.”
The deaths have already been the subject of a criminal investigation, dubbed Operation
Rochester, which concluded that there was not enough evidence to charge anyone over the
Deaths.
However, Government inspectors criticised the hospital in 2002 for its excessive use of
pain-relieving and sedative drugs. Inspectors found there was no effective monitoring of the
levels of prescription medicines and that some patients were prescribed strong pain relief before
being properly assessed. Dr Jane Barton, the only doctor to be investigated in relation to the case,
was ordered to stop prescribing morphine last July. Dr Barton, who will give evidence at the
inquests, will be the subject of a fitness to practice hearing later this year.
The inquests, listed together and scheduled to last six weeks, will be heard by the north east
Hampshire coroner Andrew Bradley, sitting with a jury, at Portsmouth Combined Court. Peter
Walsh, chief executive of Action against Medical Accidents, said: “”The General Medical Council
should be more proactive in protecting patients than protecting doctors. It is a pity there is not a
public inquiry and that the authorities are not being as open as they might be, which has added
to the families’ hurt and suspicions.
CAMPAIGNS
UPDATE March 20, 2009
“DRUGS LED TO DEATH OF PATIENTS”
(BBC online)
Three patients who died at a hospital in Hampshire in the late 1990s were given inappropriate
medication, an inquest jury has ruled.
The inquest panel looked at the deaths of 10 patients at Gosport War Memorial Hospital between 1996
and 1999.
The panel of five women and three men also found that two patients were given the correct medication
but in doses which contributed to their deaths.
The patients' families are now calling for a criminal investigation.
Some of the relatives had long believed morphine was being over-prescribed.
Police carried out investigations into 92 patients' treatment at the hospital, but no prosecutions were
brought.
Three investigations
The jury at Portsmouth Coroner's Court decided that in the cases of Robert Wilson, 74, Geoffrey
Packman, 66, and Elsie Devine, 88, the use of painkillers was inappropriate for their condition.
Arthur Cunningham, 79, and Elsie Lavender, 83, were prescribed medication appropriate for their
condition but in doses which contributed to their deaths, jurors found.
In the cases of Leslie Pittock, Helena Service, Ruby Lake, Enid Spurgin and Sheila Gregory, the jury
decided that the prescription of painkillers had not contributed to their deaths.
The inquest recorded a narrative verdict.
The jury heard evidence from members of the patients' families, medical experts and staff at the hospital,
including Dr Jane Barton.
She was investigated by police in connection with deaths at the hospital but she was not charged with
any offence.
She said in a statement: "I can say that I have always acted with care, concern and compassion towards
my patients.
"I am pleased the jury recognised that in all of these cases, drugs were only given for therapeutic
purposes."
In a statement after the verdicts, the families said: "This has been a 10-year emotional journey for the
families, not just those families directly involved in the inquest but also the relatives of the 92 victims
investigated by the police who are also still waiting for answers.
"We did not expect this inquest to be transparent, honest or fair and our expectations have been met in
full."
"Extreme drug overdoses were given without justification or logic that rendered our families comatose in
a matter of hours and dead soon after, giving relatives no warning or opportunity to speak with them.
"The families' journeys are not over. Once we have all the evidence as denied by this coroner, we will
reflect on the last few weeks and decide our next steps."
Inquiry call
The families also said that a fresh criminal investigation by Hampshire police was needed.
But in response to their call the force has said it will not reinvestigate any of the deaths.
Meanwhile, the patient safety charity Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) called for a public inquiry.
AvMA chief executive Peter Walsh said: "It is now quite clear the refusal to hold a public inquiry was
Wrong.
"There were other deaths at Gosport which should have been looked into as well as the role played by
various agencies, which may have prevented the poor practice at Gosport or it being investigated
promptly and appropriately."
“DRUGS LED TO DEATH OF PATIENTS”
(BBC online)
Three patients who died at a hospital in Hampshire in the late 1990s were given inappropriate
medication, an inquest jury has ruled.
The inquest panel looked at the deaths of 10 patients at Gosport War Memorial Hospital between 1996
and 1999.
The panel of five women and three men also found that two patients were given the correct medication
but in doses which contributed to their deaths.
The patients' families are now calling for a criminal investigation.
Some of the relatives had long believed morphine was being over-
Police carried out investigations into 92 patients' treatment at the hospital, but no prosecutions were
brought.
Three investigations
The jury at Portsmouth Coroner's Court decided that in the cases of Robert Wilson, 74, Geoffrey
Packman, 66, and Elsie Devine, 88, the use of painkillers was inappropriate for their condition.
Arthur Cunningham, 79, and Elsie Lavender, 83, were prescribed medication appropriate for their
condition but in doses which contributed to their deaths, jurors found.
In the cases of Leslie Pittock, Helena Service, Ruby Lake, Enid Spurgin and Sheila Gregory, the jury
decided that the prescription of painkillers had not contributed to their deaths.
The inquest recorded a narrative verdict.
The jury heard evidence from members of the patients' families, medical experts and staff at the hospital,
including Dr Jane Barton.
She was investigated by police in connection with deaths at the hospital but she was not charged with
any offence.
She said in a statement: "I can say that I have always acted with care, concern and compassion towards
my patients.
"I am pleased the jury recognised that in all of these cases, drugs were only given for therapeutic
purposes."
In a statement after the verdicts, the families said: "This has been a 10-
investigated by the police who are also still waiting for answers.
"We did not expect this inquest to be transparent, honest or fair and our expectations have been met in
full."
"Extreme drug overdoses were given without justification or logic that rendered our families comatose in
a matter of hours and dead soon after, giving relatives no warning or opportunity to speak with them.
"The families' journeys are not over. Once we have all the evidence as denied by this coroner, we will
reflect on the last few weeks and decide our next steps."
Inquiry call
The families also said that a fresh criminal investigation by Hampshire police was needed.
But in response to their call the force has said it will not reinvestigate any of the deaths.
Meanwhile, the patient safety charity Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) called for a public inquiry.
AvMA chief executive Peter Walsh said: "It is now quite clear the refusal to hold a public inquiry was
Wrong.
"There were other deaths at Gosport which should have been looked into as well as the role played by
various agencies, which may have prevented the poor practice at Gosport or it being investigated
promptly and appropriately."