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War Memorial families call for change in law
CAMPAIGNING relatives of elderly patients who died at Gosport's War Memorial Hospital today called for a change in the law.
Dozens of family members of patients whose deaths were at the centre of investigations over the use of drugs at the hospital were today marching in London.
They planned to deliver a 700-signature petition to Downing Street which calls for the implementation of 'Elsie's Law' to introduce tighter controls on the use of drugs at the end of patients' lives.
The proposed legislation is named after Elsie Devine, mother of Ann Reeves, who died at the hospital in Bury Road while under the care of Dr Jane Barton.
Under Elsie's Law, doctors would have to tell patients and their relatives that they were putting patients on the 'Liverpool Care Pathway' - the use of palliative to ease suffering as patients near the end of their lives.
The calls come after a series of inquests and investigations into the deaths of patients at the hospital between 1990 and 2002.
Earlier this year, a General Medical Council panel found Dr Barton guilty of multiple instances of serious professional misconduct relating to patients who died at the Gosport War Memorial hospital.
It prompted police to review the case, but the Crown Prosecution Service last week said there insufficient evidence to bring a criminal case against Dr Barton.
Mrs Reeves said: 'We are calling for a change to the law. At the moment, doctors do not have to tell patients and their families that they are putting them on the Liverpool Care Pathway, but we want that changed.'
The silent march was due to leave London's Royal Courts of Justice at midday, to arrive at Downing Street by 2pm. Relatives were to wear black and planned to carry black helium balloons.
Gosport War Memorial Hospital protestors were today due to be joined on the march by other patients' relatives who have been concerned about their loved ones' care.
Among them was former police officer Rex Patterson, whose wife Thelma died at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth, two days after being admitted with a blood clot on the lung.
The hospital admitted mistakes had been made in the lead-up to her death, but Mr Patterson has not been satisfied with the health trust's responses.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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