Families back hospital trust manslaughter probe

Bereaved families have backed a move by Sussex Police to consider bringing manslaughter charges as part of an investigation into dozens of surgery deaths at an NHS hospital trust.

The claims relate to care and treatment provided by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust between 2015 and 2021.

Sussex Police said independent consultants were reviewing individual cases but warned "due to the complex nature of the enquiries, this is likely to take some time to complete".

Philippa Slinger, who chairs the trust, said she offered her "sincere apologies and sympathy to those involved".

In 2023, Sussex Police launched Operation Bramber into an initial 105 cases, but the BBC has reported that number is now more than 200.

Dozens of relatives signed a joint letter calling for the executive team of the hospital trust to resign - ahead of a board meeting on Thursday.

In the letter, Charlotte Smart, whose mother was left paralysed after surgery in 2021, said the board had "failed to effectively investigate, let alone bring a halt to this deadly treatment and care".

Investigators have now told the families of potential victims that the investigation will consider corporate and individual manslaughter by gross negligence.

It was recently revealed a police investigation into allegations of preventable deaths and injuries at an NHS trust had doubled the number of cases it was looking at.

Chris Paling, who died in 2024, had been treated for bowel cancer at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

His case is now being looked at by Sussex Police.

His wife, Julie, said: "There seemed to be a different problem almost each day or each week.

"At one point, it led to him having to have a food bag because he couldn't eat properly.

"There were just multiple problems following what should've been a routine operation."

Police became involved after two whistleblowers raised allegations of medical negligence at two of the trust's departments - neurosurgery and general surgery – including concerns about at least 40 deaths.

The increase in cases is linked to more families having contacted the police.

Sussex Police said the investigation was "ongoing" but it would not provide specific details around case numbers.

In a statement on Thursday, the force said: "The medical experts will report on their findings and their evaluation will be considered alongside information obtained from our police inquiries to determine whether cases will be taken forward in the investigation, and if so which ones.

"Those that do not currently meet a criminal threshold will be withdrawn, and this will be communicated to patients and families directly by the investigation team."

It added it was "committed to conducting a thorough and transparent investigation" and asked anyone with corners or information regarding Operation Bramber to get in touch.

Ms Slinger said she was aware of the "long-standing problems" at the trust when taking the role last year.

"I was also aware that there are patients and families who feel let down that they have not received the care they had a right to expect," she said.

"Whilst I cannot comment on an ongoing police investigation, I offer my sincere apologies and sympathy to those involved, and stress that we are open and determined to take every opportunity to learn and improve.

"My job is to ensure the organisation delivers the changes that patients and staff need to see - there are clear signs that improvements are happening, but I understand that there is more to do."

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