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New Suspects Identified in Ongoing Investigation of Patient Deaths at Gosport Hospital
In a major development, police have identified 24 suspects in connection with the deaths of hundreds of patients at Gosport War Memorial Hospital in Hampshire. The investigation, named Operation Magenta, follows the 2018 Gosport Independent Panel report, which revealed that more than 450 patients had their lives shortened due to the routine use of opioids. The inquiry also suggested that another 200 patients may have been similarly affected.
The suspects, now under scrutiny, include 21 individuals facing allegations of gross negligence manslaughter, while three others are being investigated for possible violations of the Health and Safety at Work Act. So far, no arrests have been made, but interviews are being conducted under caution.
Deputy Chief Constable Neil Jerome, overseeing the investigation, described it as "one of the largest and most complex of its nature in the history of UK policing." He confirmed that the investigation has reached a critical point, with case files being submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS will ultimately decide whether criminal charges will be brought against any of the suspects.
Jerome reassured both the public and the families of the deceased that the investigation is being conducted thoroughly. "Family members and the general public can be confident we are working as quickly and thoroughly as possible to ensure Operation Magenta is the decisive police investigation into the deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital," he said.
The investigation has so far gathered over 1,200 witness statements and reviewed the records of more than 750 patients. Despite the complexity of the case, authorities have avoided giving any timeframe for its conclusion, emphasizing the importance of meticulous review.
Families of those who died have long sought justice, calling for prosecutions and demanding a Hillsborough-style inquest into the deaths. Last year, the High Court agreed to reopen inquests into the deaths of three patients: Gladys Richards, Arthur Cunningham, and Robert Wilson. The earlier inquests took place between 2009 and 2013, but the findings of the 2018 panel raised fresh concerns.
The Gosport Independent Panel, chaired by former Bishop of Liverpool James Jones, found "a disregard for human life" at the hospital, with an "institutionalized regime" of administering dangerously high doses of medication. However, it did not assign any criminal or civil liability at the time.
With the submission of evidence to the CPS, the families of the victims and the wider public await the next steps in a case that has cast a long shadow over healthcare practices at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.