A hospital of horrors

WHEN you enter a hospital, you place your trust in the nurses, doctors and clinicians charged with looking after you.

That trust was horrifically abused by the Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

Possibly as many as 650 patients had their lives ended prematurely following the inappropriate prescription of painkillers. It is difficult to express the anguish of their families.

Concerns were first raised as early as 1988 but the scandal continued for another 12 years. Rather than listening to whistleblowers, the authorities at every level closed ranks.

An institutional regime that showed a disregard for human life was followed by an institutional cover-up which showed a contempt for the victims’ families.

There should be an independent inquiry into why the police failed to investigate. If criminal acts can be proven, charges must be brought.

Most of all, we need to ensure our most cherished institution never again betrays the very people it is there to care for.