Dr Barton linked to 656 deaths as lethal painkillers shorten pensioners' lives

At least 456 elderly people died from lethal doses of painkillers prescribed by Dr Jane Barton, who is also linked to the deaths of 200 more people in an NHS cover up that has been described as an institutionalised 'shortening of the lives’ of old people.

Gosport victims' families continue quest for justice Credit: BBC

NHS: 'culture of shortening lives'

Some 27 years after nurses raised concerns about the lethal over-prescribing of diamorphine - also known as heroin - by Dr Barton at Gosport War Memorial Hospital, a long-running campaign for justice by the families of the elderly victims who died has finally seen some honesty from the NHS.

An independent Inquiry which began in 2014, reviewed 833 death certificates signed by Dr Jane Barton who had been a part-time GP working at the hospital.

Publishing its findings on 20 June, the Gosport Independent Panel concluded that at least 456, and possibly as many as 656 elderly patients who died at the hospital between 1989 and 2000 had their lives shortened by being given opioids 'without appropriate clinical indication'.

During the 12 years she worked at the hospital, Dr Barton dubbed 'Dr Opiate' signed 854 death certificates and 94 per cent of the patients she treated had received opiates.

The Gosport Independent Panel's report stated: 'There was an institutionalised regime of prescribing and administering 'dangerous doses' of a hazardous combination of medication not clinically indicated or justified, with patients and relatives powerless in their relationship with professional staff.'

The panel does not suggest the doctor (now aged 70-years-old) intentionally took lives. In 2010, the General Medical Council (GMC) found Dr Barton guilty of serious professional misconduct highlighting failures such as 'potentially hazardous levels of drugs" to elderly people. The GMC ruled the doctor could continue working and Dr Barton retired in 2010.

Rehabilitation expected after care home fall

Some of Dr Barton's elderly patients were at the hospital for rehabilitation following a stroke or fractured hip and are still calling for justice for their loved ones.

On 15 June 1999, Ethel Thurston, aged 78, fell in the dining room of her nursing home and was admitted to Haslar Hospital where she underwent a partial hip replacement. Miss Thurston had learning difficulties and was thought to have the mental capacity of a ten-year-old and had once had a job at a bank.

The panel's report details how on 29 June she was admitted to Gosport War Memorial Hospital for rehabilitation, care and mobilisation. On 26 July, Dr Barton saw Miss Thurston and made a note in the clinical records – “further deterioration overall … please keep comfortable. I am happy for nursing staff to confirm death”.

Dr Barton prescribed diamorphine. The drug chart records that these doses were administered at 11.15am At 7pm, a nurse confirmed Miss Thurston’s death. Miss Thurston’s death certificate recorded the cause of death as bronchopneumonia and senile dementia.

Grandmother Elsie Divine aged 88 also died at the hospital in 1999. Her granddaughter Bridget Reeves has said such unforgivable actions need to be disclosed in a criminal court for a jury to decide so that families can finally put their loved ones to rest.

Care minister and Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage: No one 'realised the scale of this'

Gosport MP and Care Minister Caroline Dinenage. Credit:Department of Health

Care Minister Caroline Dinenage is Gosport's MP and has urged the Government to take action following the NHS scandal that the panel described as an institutionalised shortening of lives.

Ms Dinenage, speaking outside Portsmouth Cathedral to the BBC, said: "It's utterly chilling.

"Those of us who have been involved in this - I was elected in 2010 and one of my constituents came to see me shortly afterwards to talk me through his battle to get justice for his dad but I don't think any of us realised the scale of this."

She said the report "talks about families who thought their loved ones were there for respite and rehabilitation only to find they were on a terminal care pathway."

Prime Minister Theresa May said in Parliament: "I'm sorry that it took so long for the families to get the answers from the NHS."

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has described the NHS scandal which happened under a Conservative Government as a "catalogue of failings". Mr Hunt said the nurses who first raised concerns in 1991 were "systematically ignored". He told MPs: "The police, working with the CPS and clinicians as necessary, will now carefully examine the new material in the report before determining their next steps and in particular whether criminal charges should now be brought."

The #Gosport Inquiry conclusions are truly shocking - 456 deaths following inappropriate prescribing of opioids & a closing of ranks which prevented families from getting to the truth. Independent & thorough police investigation by another force now needed. pic.twitter.com/t6NfVG7iP7

— Norman Lamb (@normanlamb) 20 June 2018

To read the full report click here