Swift justice is needed for families of Gosport deaths

BASW is adding its voice to those calling for speedy justice for the families of 450 patients that died at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

It is tragic that there was a disregard for human life between 1989 and 2000, as an independent panel has found.

The Gosport Independent Panel's report found whistleblowers and families were ignored as they attempted to raise concerns about the administration of medication on the wards.

This is unacceptable across health and social care. BASW’s ethics and policy guidelines are clear that supporting whistleblowers is the right thing to do.

We also support the view of Professor Sir Brain Jarman, an expert on hospital mortality at the Dr Foster Unit at Imperial College London, in his assessment that information on death rates needs to be properly assessed by health officials.