Bishop who helped families fight for the truth at Gosport War Memorial Hospital steps down from forum after stroke
Health issues has forced a bishop involved in the Gosport War Memorial Hospital deaths to resign from his role
A bishop who has spent more than a decade supporting families in their efforts to uncover what happened at Gosport War Memorial Hospital has stepped down after suffering a stroke.
Bishop James Jones, the current chair of the Gosport Family Forum for Operation Magenta, has said he is “reluctantly” resigning from his role on medical grounds after experiencing a TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack).
He first became involved in the Gosport War Memorial Hospital scandal after being appointed chair of the Gosport Independent Panel in 2014, which was tasked to investigate the deaths of over 450 patients who died while at the hospital between 1987 and 2001.
The panel’s findings were published in 2018 outlining the “quality of the police investigations was consistently poor” and that hundreds of patients died after “inappropriately high doses of opioids” were administered.
Despite multiple investigations over the years no-one has been held accountable - with criticism levelled at the police over its initial 1998 investigation following the death of 91-year-old Gladys Richards.
Operation Magenta, which is being conducted by Kent Police force, was launched in 2018 to investigate the deaths, with Bishop James Jones working alongside the families as chair of the forum.
In a letter to the families, he said: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have today tendered my resignation to the Secretary of State DHSC as an independent adviser with responsibility for chairing the Family Forum.
“Over the last 12 years it has been an honour to accompany you on your long and burdensome journey to establish the truth of how your loved ones were treated and to seek accountability for their deaths.
“Your testimony and the evidence accessed and analysed by the Gosport Independent Panel prove to me that there is a case to answer. As I have said to ministers and investigators, the faithful way so many of you have continued to attend the Forum, both in person and on line, further underlines the seriousness of the issues you have exposed.”
In November 2025, Operation Magenta confirmed there would be “no further action” into the deaths of 101 patients, sparking outrage amongst family members fighting for justice.
Deputy Chief Constable Neil Jerome of Operation Magenta said: “I would like to thank Bishop James Jones for the service he has provided in his role as chair of the family forum. My team and I send him our very best wishes for the future.
“The role of chair is independent of the police and of Operation Magenta, and the responsibility of appointing a successor to Bishop Jones lies with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. I will be requesting an update from him in due course and have committed to keeping the families informed.”