Relatives claim “monumental conspiracy” in connection with deaths of hospital patients

Campaigners representing hundreds of patients who died at Gosport War Memorial Hospital have accused Hampshire Police of orchestrating a cover-up that cost lives.

They criticized the initial investigations into the deaths and spoke of a “monumental conspiracy” to prevent the truth from coming to light.

Speakers at a press conference included 79-year-old Bernard Page from Gosport, whose mother Eva Page died in hospital in 1998.

Mr Page claimed that Hampshire Police were preparing to make a statement “on a blatant criminality that has been covered up for some 26 years”.

He said the statement would either be an admission that wrongdoing had been covered up to protect the police's reputation or “continue decades of denial of crimes.”

Bernard Page at the press conference (Image: Newsquest)

The deaths are currently being investigated by officers from Kent-based Operation Magenta, the fourth police investigation into the incidents.

But relatives are not convinced that all the facts will come to light.

Mr Page said: “It will become obvious that a massive conspiracy was underway from the outset and that the scope of Operation Magenta was manipulated to keep the crimes hidden.”

READ MORE: Police investigate hundreds of deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital and identify 24 suspects

Eva Page, who was suffering from cancer, died four days after being admitted to Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

Mr Page said his mother had been given barbiturates, adding that her death had not been properly investigated. Had this been done, further deaths at the hospital could have been avoided, he said.

David Wilson at his press conference (Image: Newsquest)

The conference was chaired by David Wilson of Sarisbury Green, whose 86-year-old aunt died in 2001.

He claimed that Hampshire Police had “fraudulently misled” health authorities over the death of another patient, Gladys Richards, because she had allegedly been deprived of fluids.

Mr Wilson said prosecutors had concluded there was insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone in connection with her death.

However, he claimed the decision was influenced by the “dishonesty” of Hampshire Police.

Mr Wilson added: “It is the police’s duty to protect lives.

“Hampshire Police knew it had to work with the Health and Safety Executive. There was a prima facie case for a successful prosecution under the Health and Safety Act or closure of the station, which would have prevented further deaths while a thorough and appropriate investigation was carried out.”

Following the press conference, Hampshire Police issued a statement citing the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

It said: “After considering an application for review of the law, the IOPC issued a direction to provide the families with a full statement of the reasons for the complaints made.”

“Our Professional Standards Department has since conducted a full and thorough investigation of the available documentation and decisions taken in order to provide a more comprehensive explanation.

“As part of this, we have provided regular updates on our progress.

“While we were conducting this review, a man representing some of the families raised further issues with the officials involved in conducting it which necessitated a re-referral to the IOPC for review and delayed the original matter.

“The IOPC ultimately dismissed these without further action, after which we were able to resume the ongoing review in full.

“This work is ongoing and we will continue to keep the family updated as we seek to provide them with the full rationale.”

In 2018, the Gosport Independent Panel published a report saying the quality of the first three police investigations into hospital deaths had been “consistently poor”.

As reported at the time, Mr Wilson claimed that some officers had acted “corruptly”, which Hampshire Constabulary denied.

In response to his complaint, police said: “There is a clear difference between an officer who has not done his job properly and an officer who is corrupt.”