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Patients in 'drug-induced comas' Patients in 'drug-induced comas'
(10 minutes later)
Elderly patients were left in "drug-induced comas" after being over-prescribed painkillers and sedatives, a fitness to practise panel has heard. Elderly patients were left in "drug-induced comas" after being over-prescribed painkillers and sedatives, a General Medical Council panel heard.
Dr Jane Barton is accused of a series of failings in her treatment of 12 patients at Hampshire's Gosport War Memorial Hospital in the late 1990s.Dr Jane Barton is accused of a series of failings in her treatment of 12 patients at Hampshire's Gosport War Memorial Hospital in the late 1990s.
The hearing follows an inquest into 10 of those patients' deaths, which found drugs to be a factor in five cases. The hearing follows an inquest into 10 patients' deaths which found drugs to be a factor in five cases.
She admitted to the General Medical Council patients had been left at risk. Dr Barton admitted the dosage range for 10 patients had been too wide.
On Monday, Dr Barton told the GMC panel that she had given instructions for dosages of drugs, including diamorphine and midazolam, which ranged too widely. On Monday, she told the GMC fitness to practise panel that she had given instructions for dosages of drugs, including diamorphine and midazolam, which ranged too widely.
There was, we say, a series of failures which led to patients being over-medicated and unnecessarily anaesthetised Tom Kark for the GMCThere was, we say, a series of failures which led to patients being over-medicated and unnecessarily anaesthetised Tom Kark for the GMC
She also admitted the prescriptions left 11 patients at risk of being given drugs excessive to their needs and this could have been potentially hazardous. She admitted that her prescriptions left 11 patients at risk of being given drugs excessive to their needs.
Dr Barton also told the panel that in four cases the starting dose of certain medications was too high.Dr Barton also told the panel that in four cases the starting dose of certain medications was too high.
All of the matters being dealt with at the hearing happened between January 1996 and November 1999.
Tom Kark, representing the GMC, said the wards on which Dr Barton worked provided longer-term care for elderly patients who expected to be rehabilitated and sent home.Tom Kark, representing the GMC, said the wards on which Dr Barton worked provided longer-term care for elderly patients who expected to be rehabilitated and sent home.
He told the panel that many of the patients had never been given opiates before, but Dr Barton wrote prescriptions for drugs, including diamorphine, which enabled nursing staff to significantly increase the dosage if they saw fit.
Mr Kark said: "There was, we say, a series of failures which led to patients being over-medicated and unnecessarily anaesthetised."Mr Kark said: "There was, we say, a series of failures which led to patients being over-medicated and unnecessarily anaesthetised."
He also said Dr Barton failed "to make proper notes of assessments of the patients". He also said Dr Barton failed to make proper notes of her assessments of the patients.
No prosecutionsNo prosecutions
A jury at Portsmouth Coroner's Court in April decided that in the cases of GWMH patients Robert Wilson, 74, Geoffrey Packman, 66, and Elsie Devine, 88, the use of painkillers had been inappropriate for their condition.A jury at Portsmouth Coroner's Court in April decided that in the cases of GWMH patients Robert Wilson, 74, Geoffrey Packman, 66, and Elsie Devine, 88, the use of painkillers had been 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.Arthur Cunningham, 79, and Elsie Lavender, 83, were prescribed medication appropriate for their condition but in doses which contributed to their deaths, jurors found.
A narrative verdict was recorded.A narrative verdict was recorded.
The allegations all relate to a period between January 1996 and November 1999. Dr Barton, who left the hospital in 2000 but still practises as a GP in Gosport, has been under certain conditions since July 2008.
Dr Barton, who left the hospital in 2000 but still practises as a GP in Gosport, has been subject to an Interim Orders Panel (IOP) since July 2008, the GMC said. She is is banned from prescribing diamorphine while she is under investigation, the GMC said.
Police carried out investigations into the treatment of 92 patients at the hospital, although no prosecutions were brought.Police carried out investigations into the treatment of 92 patients at the hospital, although no prosecutions were brought.
The patients' families have called for a criminal investigation.The patients' families have called for a criminal investigation.
The hearing is expected to last 11 weeks.The hearing is expected to last 11 weeks.