Gosport War Memorial Hospital Scandal continues with lawyer meeting following next Operation Magenta forum
Families affected by the Gosport War Memorial Hospital scandal continue to seek answers as investigations continue into the deaths caused by high opioid doses.
A lawyer representing families searching for answers following the Gosport War Memorial scandal is preparing to hold a meeting in Gosport following the next Operation Magenta families forum meeting.
Dubbed one of the ‘biggest NHS scandals of all time’, the deaths at the hospital have been under investigation after hundreds of patients died between 1987 and 2001, after ‘inappropriately high doses’ of opioids were administered.
The death of 91-year-old Gladys Richard sparked the complex NHS investigations as she was the first patient believed to have died in the unfolding scandal.
Gladys was admitted to the Gosport War Memorial Hospital to recover from a hip operation following a fall - but five days later she died due to the continuous administration of diamorphine.
An investigation was launched in 1998 following her death, and family members of other patients have previously said that the ‘dishonest’ conduct during the investigation led to the deaths of hundreds of others at the hospital.
Operation Magenta was launched after the Gosport Independent Panel report concluded in 2018 reporting that the lives of more than 450 people had been shortened from the use of opioids.
In 2023 police confirmed that the number of suspects being interviewed had risen to 29.
Emma Jones, from Leigh Day, has written to the chief coroner, Alexia Durran and the senior coroner for Hampshire, Christopher Wilkinson, to discuss next steps in relation to her clients who have inquests opened but adjourned until the conclusion of Operation Magenta.
Emma said: “Families deserve to have the deaths of their loved ones properly investigated. In Gosport, families have been waiting more than a decade for answers over how this scale of tragedy could have occurred.
“My clients are still waiting for Operation Magenta to end, and we still believe the concerning number of deaths can only be managed through a judge-led inquest, similar to Hillsborough.
Next week she will be available to listen to any concerns her clients and any others may have following their meeting with Deputy Chief Constable of Kent Police, Neil Jerome.
Emma will be based at voco Fareham-Solent, from 1pm on Wednesday, November 12.