Gosport hospital deaths: Families gather to hear whether police will investigate

At least 456 patients died after being prescribed opioids ‘without medical justification’ according to the Gosport Independent Panel’s report which was published last year.

Today the families will meet at Ferneham Hall in Fareham with Assistant Chief Constable Nick Downing, from Kent Police, who has been leading an assessment in to the report’s findings and find out if an investigation will open in to the deaths.

In 2017 Hampshire police chief constable Olivia Pinkney apologised for the three previous investigations into the deaths after which no charges were brought.

The Crown Prosecution Service previously looked at possible charges of manslaughter and murder in relation to Dr Jane Barton, who was at the centre of the scandal, and some nurses who administered the drugs. However, prosecutors decided there was not a reasonable chance of securing convictions.