IF YOU LOST YOUR GRAN ...BE AFRAID

‘Opiate deaths span 30yrs’

THOUSANDS of patients may have been killed by faulty syringe pumps in one of the biggest cover-ups in NHS history.

istered by this equipment will be asking themselves: ‘Is that what killed Granny?’”

The devices, called Graseby MS 16A Elderly victims may have and MS 26, released drugs into the bloodprematurely due to stream over a set period confusion over the so staff did not have to devices, it is feared. inject manually.

They gave misleading The equipment was used readings and these could in the NHS for at least 30 result in a day’s worth years until 2015, despite of opiates being injected warnings over the risk of in just one hour. fatalities from user error

The scandal emerged dating back to the 1990s. after an inquiry found Around 40,000 were used hundreds of people were across the country. killed by drug overBut the story was doses at Gosport War allegedly buried in the Memorial Hospital, near Gosport report over fears Portsmouth. of causing a national

A damning report last scandal, and was dealt week found up to 650 with in just two sentences. patients may have been The equipment has been killed at the hospital reportedly linked with between 1989 and 2000 overdose-related deaths because of overdoses of in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, powerful opiates. Wales and elsewhere.

Retired GP Jane Barton, Meanwhile, it emerged 69, dubbed Dr Opiate, INJECTIONS: Barton and pump that nurses first raised allegedly prescribed the the alarm over the use opiates to patients at the hospital with no of painkillers at the hospital from the medical justification. moment Dr Barton arrived 30 years ago.

A health service whistleblower said: Staff were reportedly said to have warn“This could be one of the biggest cover-ups ed hospital bosses in 1988 that they were in NHS history. being used without medical justification

“Anyone who has lost their granny over but nothing was done. the past 30 years when opiates were admin- died