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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Fresh criminal inquiry launched into Gosport hospital deaths | Fresh criminal inquiry launched into Gosport hospital deaths |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Police have launched a fresh inquiry into how 450 patients died over 14 years after being given dangerously high doses of painkillers at an NHS hospital that showed “a disregard for human life”. | Police have launched a fresh inquiry into how 450 patients died over 14 years after being given dangerously high doses of painkillers at an NHS hospital that showed “a disregard for human life”. |
| Relatives of the victims hope the investigation – the fourth into one of the biggest scandals in NHS history – will finally lead to criminal charges being brought against staff involved in administering the drugs unnecessarily. | Relatives of the victims hope the investigation – the fourth into one of the biggest scandals in NHS history – will finally lead to criminal charges being brought against staff involved in administering the drugs unnecessarily. |
| An independent inquiry last year into events at Gosport War Memorial hospital in Hampshire found 456 patients had their lives shortened as a result of being given opioids without medical reason between 1987 and 2001. Their deaths are the focus of the new police investigation. | An independent inquiry last year into events at Gosport War Memorial hospital in Hampshire found 456 patients had their lives shortened as a result of being given opioids without medical reason between 1987 and 2001. Their deaths are the focus of the new police investigation. |
| Another 200 people “probably” received excessive doses of painkillers at the hospital between 1989 and 2000, it added. | Another 200 people “probably” received excessive doses of painkillers at the hospital between 1989 and 2000, it added. |
| The previous inquiry found “there was a disregard for human life and a culture of shortening [the] lives of a large number of patients”. | The previous inquiry found “there was a disregard for human life and a culture of shortening [the] lives of a large number of patients”. |
| It also uncovered “an institutionalised regime of prescribing and administering ‘dangerous doses’ of a hazardous combination of medication not clinically indicated or justified”. | It also uncovered “an institutionalised regime of prescribing and administering ‘dangerous doses’ of a hazardous combination of medication not clinically indicated or justified”. |
| Patients were given large doses of diamorphine – heroin – even though they were not in pain, that inquiry found. The drugs were administered through a syringe driver that was not adjusted to each person’s individual medical needs. | Patients were given large doses of diamorphine – heroin – even though they were not in pain, that inquiry found. The drugs were administered through a syringe driver that was not adjusted to each person’s individual medical needs. |
| Kent police announced the fresh inquiry on Tuesday. Three previous police investigations have not led to anyone being charged, despite repeated calls from relatives for those responsible to face justice. | Kent police announced the fresh inquiry on Tuesday. Three previous police investigations have not led to anyone being charged, despite repeated calls from relatives for those responsible to face justice. |
| Nick Downing, an assistant chief constable with the force, said there would be “a full investigation” into the deaths of the 456 patients. | Nick Downing, an assistant chief constable with the force, said there would be “a full investigation” into the deaths of the 456 patients. |
| “The families of those affected by the events at Gosport War Memorial hospital are at the heart of everything we do and I hope the news that we will now be carrying out a full investigation is of some comfort to them,” he said. | “The families of those affected by the events at Gosport War Memorial hospital are at the heart of everything we do and I hope the news that we will now be carrying out a full investigation is of some comfort to them,” he said. |
| “This investigation is not about numbers, it is about people, specifically those who died at the hospital and the loved ones they have left behind.” | “This investigation is not about numbers, it is about people, specifically those who died at the hospital and the loved ones they have left behind.” |
| Police told relatives about the inquiry at a meeting on Tuesday before making the official announcement. | Police told relatives about the inquiry at a meeting on Tuesday before making the official announcement. |
| Family members greeted the news with cautious optimism but also concern about what the inquiry might lead to. The passage of time means evidence may no longer exist. | Family members greeted the news with cautious optimism but also concern about what the inquiry might lead to. The passage of time means evidence may no longer exist. |
| Ian Sandford, whose mother, Hazel Felicity Sandford, died at the hospital, attended the meeting and welcomed the latest investigation. | Ian Sandford, whose mother, Hazel Felicity Sandford, died at the hospital, attended the meeting and welcomed the latest investigation. |
| But he said he had reservations about how thorough it could be. “As people die, they only keep a certain amount of evidence, and after 10 years, I understand, it’s chopped off,” Sandford said. | But he said he had reservations about how thorough it could be. “As people die, they only keep a certain amount of evidence, and after 10 years, I understand, it’s chopped off,” Sandford said. |
| “So there’s people in there [the meeting] that have been fighting for 20 years that don’t know what is going to happen. They should have sorted this out a long time ago.” | “So there’s people in there [the meeting] that have been fighting for 20 years that don’t know what is going to happen. They should have sorted this out a long time ago.” |
| But families are “very glad” Kent police are taking renewed action that may lead to charges, he added. | But families are “very glad” Kent police are taking renewed action that may lead to charges, he added. |
| The inquiry last year was led by James Jones, a former bishop of Liverpool. After it reported, Jeremy Hunt, the then health secretary, apologised and told MPs that the police and Crown Prosecution Service would consider whether anyone involved should face charges. | The inquiry last year was led by James Jones, a former bishop of Liverpool. After it reported, Jeremy Hunt, the then health secretary, apologised and told MPs that the police and Crown Prosecution Service would consider whether anyone involved should face charges. |
| Relatives had spent many years trying in vain to get proper answers from the NHS about why their loved ones had died, Hunt added. | Relatives had spent many years trying in vain to get proper answers from the NHS about why their loved ones had died, Hunt added. |
| The Jones inquiry found senior nurses at the hospital tried to raise the alarm in 1991 but were warned not to pursue their concerns. The hospital could have rectified the overprescribing at that time, but did not do so. | The Jones inquiry found senior nurses at the hospital tried to raise the alarm in 1991 but were warned not to pursue their concerns. The hospital could have rectified the overprescribing at that time, but did not do so. |
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