Brighton hospital probed over 40 deaths amid medical negligence claims

Sussex Police have launched an investigation into the deaths of around 40 patients at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, amid allegations of medical negligence spanning a five-year period. The claims, which involve neurosurgery and general surgery, were made by two consultant surgeons who lost their jobs after raising concerns about patient safety.

The Guardian reported that last week, officers from Sussex Police wrote to the trust’s chief executive, George Findlay, confirming the commencement of a formal investigation into “a number of deaths.” The allegations of “criminal culpability through medical negligence” were made by “two separate clinical consultants” at the trust, according to a letter cited by the newspaper.

The whistleblowers alleged that the trust failed to adequately investigate the deaths, which occurred between 2015 and 2020, and did not learn from past mistakes. Last month, inspectors from the Care Quality Commission downgraded the trust, giving it a ‘requires improvement’ rating for patient safety.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “The trust has been contacted by Sussex Police as part of their inquiries relating to the care of a number of general surgery and neurosurgery patients at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton between 2015 and 2020. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage other than to confirm that we are co-operating fully to ensure the concerns raised are investigated.”

A Sussex Police spokesperson added: “Sussex Police has received allegations of medical negligence at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, and is currently assessing these allegations. The concerns raised relate to neurosurgery and general surgery in a period between 2015-2020. Inquiries are at an early stage and this does not necessarily mean this will lead to criminal prosecution. We are working closely with partner agencies and the hospital trust is co-operating fully with our review.”