No prosecutions over more than 100 hospital deaths

At least 456 hospital patients died after being given painkillers inappropriately, an inquiry previously found

More than 100 families have been told no charges will be brought over the deaths of patients at a scandal-hit hospital.

At least 456 people died after being given powerful painkillers inappropriately at Gosport War Memorial Hospital in Hampshire between 1989 and 2000, an inquiry previously found.

Police, who began a criminal investigation in 2019, have examined the medical records of more than 750 patients.

The Operation Magenta team said it had decided that 101 cases "have not met the evidential test for criminal prosecution", while a further case had been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Solicitor Emma Jones said the dropped cases left some families in limbo

Solicitor Emma Jones, who represents relatives, said: "These families are now at the point where, after all these years, there are still no answers, still no justice, still no closure."

However, she said the dropped cases were still due to be examined at inquests.

Peta Holt, whose grandmother Gladys Richards died at the hospital in 1998, said the investigation was too slow.

"Twenty-seven years is too long for anybody and we haven't got another 27 years," she added.

"It's inhumane, because we live with this. We can't let it go."

The 2018 report concluded as many as 650 patients probably died, amid a culture of "disregard for human life".

Concerns were formally raised by nurses in 1991 about the hospital's use of diamorphine and syringe drivers, the Gosport Independent Panel found.

Dr Jane Barton, who oversaw prescribing on the wards and has now retired, was found guilty by a tribunal of serious professional misconduct in 2010.

In a statement in 2018, she said she was a "hard-working doctor" who was "doing her best" for patients in a "very inadequately resourced" part of the NHS.

Penny Brind (left) and Nicky Bettridge are waiting for answers about their father's death

Police, who gave an update to relatives at a meeting on Wednesday, did not name the cases that had been dropped.

Penny Brind and her twin sister Nicky Bettridge, whose father Norman Townsend died at the hospital in 1999, attended the briefing.

Ms Bettridge said: "It just seems a bit never-ending. There doesn't seem to be a lot of progress made.

"It's quite difficult, really, not having any answers still after all this time."

Ms Brind added: "A lot of the suspects... are now getting older and if they've got things like dementia or Alzheimer's they're not going to be fit to take place in a court case."

The new criminal investigation team overseen by Kent Police, following three previous inquiries that did not result in charges, began to send files to the Crown Prosecution Service last year.

Previously, detectives said 24 people were suspected of gross negligence manslaughter and five of health and safety offences.

In a statement, Deputy Chief Constable Neil Jerome of Operation Magenta said: "We are working as quickly and thoroughly as possible to ensure this is the decisive police investigation into what happened at the hospital.

'We are continuing the process of submitting case files to the Crown Prosecution Service and acting on its advice."