The doctor in charge of prescribing drugs on the hospital wards where up to 650 patients’ lives were cut short by dangerous doses of painkillers has retired on a healthy NHS pension.
A report published today found that, for a 12-year period, Dr Jane Barton was responsible for the culture which prevailed on the wards where hundreds of patients died after being given doses of drugs ‘without medical justification’.
Nobody has ever been prosecuted over the scandal and Dr Barton was allowed to continue practicing as a doctor until she retired.
She now lives in a £700,000 detached home with her husband Tim, a former Royal Navy commadore, but the couple are thought to have jetted out to Spain ahead of today’s damning report into premature deaths of patients in her care.
Dr Jane Barton is the focus of a report published today which found up to 650 patients had their lives cut short after they were given large doses of painkillers on wards she ran
Dr Barton, who graduated from Oxford in 1972, took up her post as clinical assistant in the hospital in May 1988 and remained in the role for 12 years until tendering her resignation in April 2000.
She had previously worked as a GP in Dorset and from 1980 in Gosport.
At Gosport War Memorial Hospital, she worked on a ward which dealt with patients transfered from other hospitals who needed more care than nursing homes could provide.
Around 95% of her patients received opiates during her 12 years at the hospital and she signed 854 death certificates.
Complaints from families eventually led to a much-delayed case against her being brought by the General Medical Council.
At the GMC hearing, which ended in 2010, she produced 200 testimonials from other medics and local patients.
Dr Barton took up her post as clinical assistant in the Gosport War Memorial hospital in May 1988 and remained in the role for 12 years until tendering her resignation in April 2000.
Her lawyers insisted that she was a ‘good doctor’ and she pleaded that caring for increasing numbers of elderly had put her and other staff under ‘unreasonable pressure’.
But she was found guilty of professional misconduct, criticised for prescribing strong drugs in an ‘excessive, inappropriate, potentially hazardous’ way, and barred from giving opiate injections.
However, she was allowed to continue working as a GP in Gosport, although she has since retired and is said to now enjoy wildlife photography.
She was not present at her home today.
A neighbour said: ‘She doesn’t have many friends around here. I only know her from seeing her across the street. She’s friendly.
‘Both their cars have gone, so I presume they’re not there. I think they will have gone away.’
Another neighbour said: ‘She’s gone to Menorca.’
‘Now bring them to court!’ Families demand ‘Dr Opiate’ and her nurses face prosecution after damning inquiry reveals ‘horrifying and unforgivable’ early deaths of up to 650 patients at scandal-hit hospital
ByRichard Spillettand Martin Robinsonand Jaya Narain for MailOnline
Dr Jane Barton oversaw a regime of prescribing dangerous levels of opioid drugs which shortened up to 650 lives at a hospital in Hampshire between 1989 and 2000
The grieving families of up to 650 people whose lives were cut short in a hospital where patients were given huge doses of painkilling opioids have demanded criminal prosecutions over the scandal.
A damning report published today revealed ‘a disregard for human life’ at Gosport War Memorial hospital in Hampshire and ‘a culture of shortening the lives of a large number of patients’.
At least 450 people were found to have died prematurely between 1989 and 2000, the inquiry found, with an extra 200 probably affected before medical records went missing.
The inquiry focused at the actions of Dr Jane Barton, dubbed ‘Dr Opiate’, who oversaw the dishing out of the powerful painkillers. She has since retired.
The report, which follows a four-year investigation, also slammed hospital management, police, prosecutors and medical watchdogs over their failure to protect patients.
Speaking after the report was published, Anne Cunningham, whose husband Arthur died at the hospital, said: ‘These people did not deserve to be put down like a dog. These people lived their lives only for someone at the end to decide to play God and put an end to them.’
Bridget Reeves, whose grandmother Elsie Devine died in the hospital, stood before a group of grieving families and said: ‘Our vulnerable relatives were stripped of their final words to their loved ones, silenced by overdoses.
‘These horrifying, shameful, unforgivable actions need to be disclosed in a criminal court for a jury to decide.’
Cindy Grant, whose father Stan Carby died at the hospital, added: ‘We are hoping criminal charges should be brought against not just those in charge but those who administered the drugs as well.’
The inquiry panel found there was ‘an institutionalised regime of prescribing and administering dangerous doses’ which were not needed and relatives who complained were ‘consistently let down by those in authority – both individuals and institutions’.
Families of the elderly patients who died at the Gosport War Memorial Hospital have said they will not stop fighting until those responsible have been brought to justice in a court of law
There have been calls for a fresh police investigation into retired GP Dr Barton, who families accuse of being responsible for the deaths of their elderly relatives, but it remains unclear whether there is enough evidence to bring a case.
The inquiry did not assess criminal liability, but concluded: ‘The relevant public authorities will want to consider the action that now needs to be taken to further investigate what happened at the hospital.’
Police said they will assess any new information, adding: ‘It is already apparent from our early reading of the 370 pages that in its deliberations, the Panel has had sight of information that has not previously been seen by Hampshire Constabulary.’
A CPS said it will ‘take any appropriate steps as required’.
The £700,000 house Dr Barton shares with former Royal Navy Commodore husband Tim stood empty today. Neighbours suggested the couple have gone to Spain.
Cindy Grant, whose father Stan Carby died at the hospital, said of her: ‘I heard she was abroad but I didn’t expect she would have been here to face the music. We had a feeling she would be out of the country.’
Giving a statement outside Portsmouth Cathedral today, Bishop James Jones, who headed the inquiry, said: ‘The documents seen by the panel show that for a 12 year period a clinical assistant, Dr Barton, was responsible for the practice of prescribing which prevailed on the wards.
‘Although the consultants were not involved directly in treating patients on the wards, the medical records show that they were aware of how drugs were prescribed and administered but did not intervene to stop the practice.
‘Nurses had a responsibility to challenge prescribing where it was not in the interests of the patient.
‘The records show that the nurses did not discharge that responsibility and continued to administer the drugs prescribed.’
Families of those who died in the hospital hug today after their 20-year fight for justice
The Rt Rev Jones said there had been ‘lots of tears’ and ‘grieving’ when families were presented with the findings of the report on Wednesday morning.
He told a press conference the report did not explore why the practice of prescribing may have taken place at the hospital.
‘Questions about motive are beyond the terms of reference for the panel, but those are questions that will need to be prosecuted,’ he said.
Kate Blackwell QC, who served on the panel, said: ‘One family member… said that in fact for her, this was the beginning.
‘Twenty years or so too late but eventually, they were being recognised and the fault of the hospital was being recognised.
‘And they were confident that today’s report is the start of the process that should have taken place a long time ago.’
A damning report revealed the lives of more than 450 people had been shortened by the prescribing and administering of opioids without medical justification at the hospital
Theresa May apologised over the length of time it had taken families to get answers.
The deaths have already led to four police and Crown Prosecution Service probes, a General Medical Council hearing, various Health Service inquires and a special ‘death audit’ to find out why so many elderly patients died.
But all have failed to result in any criminal prosecution of anyone involved. It means families have been battling for two decades for answers.
When asked about the forthcoming report at her Georgian townhouse in Alverstoke, Gosport, this week, Dr Barton said: ‘I don’t know what will be in the report, but I don’t think it will be very pleasant. I’ve never spoken to the Press about what happened and I don’t plan to now.’
Caroline Dinenage, Conservative MP for Gosport, today said the report was ‘so much worse’ than anticipated and called for action.
A relative of one of those who died wept as families told how they were let down by the NHS, medical watchdogs and coroners
She told the BBC: ‘Everybody needs to look at this document and go through it with a fine toothcomb as there are so many unanswered questions,’ she said.
‘The Crown Prosecution Service needs to look at it, Hampshire Police needs to look at it and the Government needs to look at it, not just the Department of Health, but the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice.
‘There are so many unanswered questions here and the families have waited so many years, and their questions deserve to be answered. ‘
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the deaths at Gosport hospital represented ‘a shameful episode in our nation’s recent history’.
Mr Ashworth told MPs that it was ‘unforgivable’ that patients expecting rehabilitation were ‘put on a terminal care pathway’.
He added: ‘Why did families who had lost loved ones have to take on such a burden, have to take on such a toll, to demand answers?
‘It’s clear that the concerns of families were too often, too readily dismissed, treated as irritants. It’s shameful, no family should be put through that.’
Mr Ashworth asked Mr Hunt to spell out how change could be implemented to ensure incidents such as this could never happen again.
Stephanie Prior, head of medical negligence at law firm Osbornes, said the Government must answer the questions posed by family members.
She said: ‘The utter disregard shown for human life is what is truly shocking, and the inquiry findings are scant comfort to the families of those who died.
‘Concerns were first raised by nursing staff back as early as 1988, yet no investigation was initiated for nearly 10 years.
The scandal is that everyone may walk away from this without anyone being held responsible. Worse for the families is that the time limit for bringing medical negligence cases to seek compensation has long passed.’
Speaking on behalf of patients’ families, Bridget Reeves, whose grandmother died in the hospital said they had been let down by every government body and quango involved
Delivering his report, Bishop James Jones, who led the inquiry, said Dr Barton was responsible for the practice of prescribing drugs which prevailed on the wards
Health secretary Mr Hunt said that the ‘culture is changing in the NHS’, but added: ‘I don’t by any means think that we are there and I think that we will uncover from this a number of things that we’re still not getting right.’
Police to review new evidence after families’ call for charges
Hampshire police chief Olivia Pinkney
A police chief has vowed to consider ‘next steps’ following today’s damning report.
Families of those who died in Gosport have called for those responsible to face criminal charges over their actions.
Olivia Pinkney, chief constable of Hampshire Police, said: ‘Hampshire Constabulary carried out three police investigations between 1998 and 2006.
‘This involved detailed professional assessment by a number of independent medical experts and the evidence was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service and Treasury counsel, which concluded that the evidential test for prosecution as set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors was not met.
‘Now that the report has been published and shared with us, we will take the time to read its findings carefully.
‘We will assess any new information contained within the report in conjunction with our partners in health and the Crown Prosecution Service in order to decide the next steps.’
Eastbourne MP Stephen Lloyd, whose constituent Gladys Richards died in 1998 after she was transferred to the Gosport War Memorial Hospital, has previously vowed to lobby for charges.
The family of Stan Carby, a former naval officer – who was just 65 when he died within 24 hours of being admitted for rehabilitation following a series of mini-strokes – called for a full probe into Dr Barton’s actions.
Speaking earlier this week, his daughter Cindy Grant, said: ‘The police never conducted a proper investigation into our allegations and it is time they looked at bringing criminal proceedings against those responsible.
‘I think they ought to immediately look again at the case of Dr Jane Barton under whose care so many died.’
Enid Spurgeon, then 92, was admitted to Gosport hospital after falling and fracturing her hip in March 1999. She was admitted to Haslar Hospital where the doctors operated on her before being sent to Gosport for rehabilitation.
But her family immediately had concerns for her welfare and she died after apparently being given powerful painkillers. Nephew, Carl Jewell, said before the report: ‘Obviously something should happen and people should be held accountable.’
The inquiry published today is the latest probe into treatment at the hospital.
A ‘death audit’ report published in 2013 concluded that ‘a practice of almost routine use of opiates before death’ was in place during Dr Barton’s tenure.
The GMC investigation, completed in 2009, eight years after she was referred for a fitness to practise panel, found Dr Barton guilty of ‘serious professional misconduct’.
It heard she had a ‘brusque, unfriendly and indifferent’ manner and found her use of painkillers on the elderly ward was ‘excessive, inappropriate and potentially hazardous’.
She also displayed ‘intransigence and a worrying lack of insight’ and a ‘failure to recognise the limits of her professional competence’.
Edna Purnell, 91, died at the hospital in 1998. Her son was threatened with arrest when he tried to feed her
Bridget Reeves accuses Barton of being responsible for the death of her grandmother Elsie Devine (pictured) who died at Gosport in 1999 aged 88, weighing just seven stone
She was banned from prescribing injectable opiates or providing palliative care but was not struck off.
In 2010, after reviewing the GMC findings and evidence heard at inquests into the deaths of ten patients, the CPS concluded ‘the evidence is insufficient to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for an offence of gross negligence manslaughter… in respect of each of the ten deaths reviewed’.
Dr Barton has twice been interviewed by police under caution over the ‘potential homicide’ of ten patients, but never charged.
She refused to answer some questions put to her, according to a Hampshire police report.