Devendra Kumar
The Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton is currently under investigation by police over allegations of medical negligence that may have contributed to the deaths of around 40 patients during a five-year period from 2015 to 2020. Two consultant surgeons who lost their jobs after blowing the whistle on patient safety concerns had claimed that the hospital trust failed to properly investigate these deaths and learn from any mistakes made. The allegations concern alleged failings in neurosurgery and general surgery.
Detectives from Sussex Police have launched a formal investigation into “a number of deaths” and are looking into claims of “criminal culpability through medical negligence” made by two separate clinical consultants at the trust. The police investigation was confirmed after officers wrote to the trust’s chief executive, George Findlay, last week.
The hospital trust has been given a ‘requires improvement’ rating for patient safety by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission following a recent inspection. A trust spokesperson has confirmed that they are co-operating fully with the police investigation, but stated that it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage. A Sussex Police spokesperson also emphasized that the investigation is at an early stage and does not necessarily mean that it will lead to criminal prosecution.
The whistleblowing consultants, who were involved in the care of patients affected by the alleged medical negligence, had reportedly claimed that the hospital trust failed to properly investigate the deaths and learn from any mistakes made. They had also alleged that the trust was not transparent about the outcome of these investigations and did not take adequate steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The investigation by police and the hospital trust’s response to the allegations have raised concerns about patient safety and the accountability of healthcare professionals. The incident highlights the importance of whistleblowing and the need for healthcare organizations to create a culture of transparency and openness in reporting any concerns about patient care.