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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jun/20/gosport-war-memorial-hospital-opioid-drugs-policy-inquiry
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| Gosport hospital: more than 450 patients died due to opioid drugs policy | Gosport hospital: more than 450 patients died due to opioid drugs policy |
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| More than 450 patients died and possibly 200 more had their lives shortened because of a Hampshire hospital’s practice of giving opioid drugs without medical justification, a major inquiry has found. | More than 450 patients died and possibly 200 more had their lives shortened because of a Hampshire hospital’s practice of giving opioid drugs without medical justification, a major inquiry has found. |
| The independent report found that Dr Jane Barton, the GP who ran wards at Gosport War Memorial hospital, routinely overprescribed drugs for her patients in the 1990s. Consultants were aware of her actions but did not intervene. | The independent report found that Dr Jane Barton, the GP who ran wards at Gosport War Memorial hospital, routinely overprescribed drugs for her patients in the 1990s. Consultants were aware of her actions but did not intervene. |
| The inquiry, led by Bishop James Jones, found that 465 patients died because of the drugs. A further 200 patients may have had their lives shortened, but their records are missing. | The inquiry, led by Bishop James Jones, found that 465 patients died because of the drugs. A further 200 patients may have had their lives shortened, but their records are missing. |
| The report says senior nurses were worried about using diamorphine – the medical name for heroin – for patients who were not in pain, administered through a syringe-driver pumping out doses that were not adjusted for the individual’s needs. | The report says senior nurses were worried about using diamorphine – the medical name for heroin – for patients who were not in pain, administered through a syringe-driver pumping out doses that were not adjusted for the individual’s needs. |
| Concerns were raised as early as 1988. In 1991, a staff meeting was held that was attended by a convenor from the Royal College of Nursing. | Concerns were raised as early as 1988. In 1991, a staff meeting was held that was attended by a convenor from the Royal College of Nursing. |
| But the nurses were warned not to take their concerns further. They had, the report says, given the hospital the opportunity to rectify the over-prescribing. | But the nurses were warned not to take their concerns further. They had, the report says, given the hospital the opportunity to rectify the over-prescribing. |
| “In choosing not to do so, the opportunity was lost, deaths resulted and 22 years later, it became necessary to establish this panel in order to discover the truth of what happened.” | “In choosing not to do so, the opportunity was lost, deaths resulted and 22 years later, it became necessary to establish this panel in order to discover the truth of what happened.” |
| The panel makes it clear it thinks prosecutions should follow, although it is beyond its remit to say so. | The panel makes it clear it thinks prosecutions should follow, although it is beyond its remit to say so. |
| The report invites the health secretary, the attorney general, the chief constable of Hampshire police and the relevant investigatory authorities “to recognise the significance of what is revealed about the circumstances of deaths at the hospital and act accordingly”. | The report invites the health secretary, the attorney general, the chief constable of Hampshire police and the relevant investigatory authorities “to recognise the significance of what is revealed about the circumstances of deaths at the hospital and act accordingly”. |
| Barton worked as a clinical assistant at the hospital for 12 years. She was responsible for prescribing on the wards, but her superiors, the hospital’s consultants, knew what she was doing. | Barton worked as a clinical assistant at the hospital for 12 years. She was responsible for prescribing on the wards, but her superiors, the hospital’s consultants, knew what she was doing. |
| Nurses had a responsibility to challenge Barton if they thought the drugs were not in the interests of the patients, but records show they did not exercise it, the report says. | Nurses had a responsibility to challenge Barton if they thought the drugs were not in the interests of the patients, but records show they did not exercise it, the report says. |
| The documents “also demonstrate the suboptimal care and lack of diligence by nursing staff in executing their professional accountability for the care delivered”, the panel found. | |
| The patients and their families – who the report said had shown “remarkable tenacity and fortitude in questioning what happened to their loved ones” – were failed by numerous inquiries and investigations over many years. The report criticises healthcare organisations, the limited police investigations and the processes of the General Medical Council. | The patients and their families – who the report said had shown “remarkable tenacity and fortitude in questioning what happened to their loved ones” – were failed by numerous inquiries and investigations over many years. The report criticises healthcare organisations, the limited police investigations and the processes of the General Medical Council. |
| In 2009, Barton appeared before a disciplinary tribunal of the GMC, the doctors’ regulatory body, where she was heavily censured and conditions placed on her practiceThe GMC later said it was wrong not to strike her from the medical register. | In 2009, Barton appeared before a disciplinary tribunal of the GMC, the doctors’ regulatory body, where she was heavily censured and conditions placed on her practiceThe GMC later said it was wrong not to strike her from the medical register. |
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