Dr Jane Barton Report
Stephanie Prior
Table of Contents
The latest scandal facing the NHS is the case of now retired Doctor Jane Barton, who on her watch between 1988-2000, at the Gosport War Memorial Hospital in Portsmouth, signed the death certificates of 833 patients. A report commissioned by the Gosport Panel will reveal its findings on Wednesday 20th June. The accusation is that Barton unnecessarily prescribed an opium drug for pain relief, contributing to the death of some of her patients. Families allege that patients at the hospital were “almost routinely” given strong painkillers in high doses, which in some cases led to their deaths. Many believe that patients were given high doses of drugs to ‘keep them quiet’.
Stephanie Prior, head of medical negligence at Osbornes Law, spoke to Nick Ferrari on LBC breakfast on the 17th June. Stephanie, a former A&E nurse commented that the report was hopefully going to provide answers to the families involved.
The remit of the report is not to establish whether Barton is guilty of manslaughter or murder. Prior comments that access to justice for the families will be limited as Barton is retired and her being ‘struck off’ will have little impact. Quite astonishingly Barton was found guilty of “multiple instances of serious professional misconduct” by the General Medical Council in 2010 but was not struck off!
There is also a strict time limit as to when a person can bring a claim for medical negligence, which sadly, has long elapsed. As Stephanie says, the only way to bring a claim after such a long time is in very exceptional circumstances.
James Jones, The former Bishop of Liverpool, who published a report on the Hillsborough tragedy, will deliver his findings to families of patients who died on Wednesday 20th June. Many of the families are hoping that the report will provide enough evidence to escalate proceedings to the Crown Prosecution Service.
It is expected that both Theresa May and Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, will make statements to the House of Commons on the reports findings.
Prior made the point during her interview that hospitals usually carry out investigations to prevent incidents such as what occurred at Gosport War Memorial Hospital from repeating. Sadly, however this did not prove to be the case and Prior suggests that patients age and other health problems, may have masked the issue and decisions of Barton.
You can listen to the full interview below.
To contact Stephanie Prior or a member of the medical negligence team at Osbornes call us on 020 7485 8811 or fill in our online form.
Share this article
Contact
Related InsightsVIEW ALL
13.1.2023Delayed cancer diagnosis results in five figure settlement
The medical negligence team at Osbornes Law has recently settled a case involving a patient who passed away following a...
Read more
1.8.2022Successful settlement for birth injury that led to...
Stephanie Prior’s case relating to the death of Gabriela Pintilie has settled and has been approved by the High...
Read more
14.7.2022Insulin overdose in hospitals due to limited staff...
A century ago, insulin was first used to treat a 14-year-old boy dying of type 1 diabetes A hundred years later,...
Read more
31.1.2022Recent fatal medical negligence cases
Osbornes Law specialises in helping families who have suffered a fatality due to inadequate medical care. Our specialist team is...
Read more
15.12.2021Vaccine Related Blood Clots And Delays in Diagnosis
Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism and Vaccine Induced Blood Clots The worldwide COVID-19 immunisation programme has been in full swing...
Read more
9.7.2021Legal Support For Bereaved Families
What legal support is available for bereaved families? The loss of a loved one is an extremely distressing time for...
Read more
8.7.2021Failure to prescribe anti-coagulant medication proves fatal
Executor of the Estate of DS and another v James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust The Clinical Negligence team...
Read more
18.5.2021Fatality of child caused by incorrect diagnosis
KRB was born in 2000 and was a patient at Whipp’s Cross Hospital. In the Autumn of 2014 he was feeling...
Read more
13.10.2020Parental Bereavement Leave & Pay
Leave and pay when a child dies Pregnancy and childbirth can be very exciting but anxious times for both parents. ...
Read more
27.8.2020Reform is needed for inquests and inquiries relating...
It has been reported that an ‘influential thinktank has urged the Lord Chancellor to grant automatic legal aid to bereaved...
Read more
17.1.2020Inquest held for former cab driver
A former black cab driver starved himself to death in hospital after being allowed to refuse food and drink despite...
Read more
13.11.2019Fatal Claim against West London NHS Trust
I recently acted in a claim for a fatality against West London NHS Trust for damages under the Law Reform (...
Read more- 4.7.2019
Stephanie Prior explains possible causes of fatal Strep...
In an article published by the Essex Chronicle, Stephanie Prior, Head of Medical Negligence, shares her view on what could...
Read more - 22.5.2019
Bereavement Award
A Historic Decision In the case of Smith v Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & Ors (Rev 2) [2017] EWCA Civ 1916,...
Read more 
29.4.2019Successful Claim After Ambulance Delay
Stephanie Prior, Head of Medical Negligence acted for J, who was a dependent of C his partner. C suffered from...
Read more
15.7.2018Bereavement Damages
At the end of 2017, the Court of Appeal released its judgement in the case Jacqueline Smith v Lancashire Teaching Hospitals...
Read more
19.1.2018Fatal Sepsis Misdiagnosed As Flu
First of all, a bit of background on the current UK flu season. Right now, in health-related media matters a...
Read more- 18.9.2016
Inquest finds negligence led to man’s death
On Tuesday 13th September 2016, Chelmsford coroner’s court recorded a narrative verdict and found that serious medical failings led to...
Read more - 26.10.2015
Inquest rules negligence after death of 14 year old
An inquest has ruled that Whipps Cross Hospital, which is part of the Bart NHS Trust was negligent in the...
Read more