Operation Bramber: Specialist Lawyers Supporting Patients With Concerns About Care At Brighton Hospital Issue Advice As They Respond To Police Investigation

It has been reported that the police investigation into more than 90 deaths and 100-plus cases of serious harm at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton could take over five years to be completed unless further resources are made available.  

Sussex Police is considering an application to the Home Office for additional funding, to help with the additional recruitment it believe is likely to be required as part of Operation Bramber.

Medical negligence lawyers representing concerned patients

I’m investigating medical negligence claims on behalf of patients who received treatment at Royal Sussex County Hospital which is run by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Those I’ve spoken to have raised serious concerns about their care, and it appears they may have suffered significant and avoidable harm. 

The nature and scale of the concerns means it's unsurprising that the police investigation is likely to be complex. My clients are concerned about the prospect it could take years for the police to conclude their investigations, and before any decisions are made by the CPS about potential prosecutions. 

As such, the news that Sussex Police is seeking to expedite its investigations and provide answers to patients and their families is welcome. 

Advice to patients and families

It’s understood that affected patients and families are now starting to receive letters from the police informing them that their care is being investigated by detectives. 

No doubt this will be a distressing and anxious time for many. While the police investigation continues, there are several ways affected patients can seek support in the meantime.   

People can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALs) at the Hospital Trust if they want to make a complaint about the treatment they or a family member received. Alternatively, they may be able to contact their GP or hospital doctor if they have questions about medical issues.

How seeking legal advice may help 

The other option is to seek legal advice. Nothing can make up for what patients and families may have been through but seeking specialist legal advice can be key to securing answers and access to any follow up support or treatment people may need.

Irwin Mitchell will be seeking answers through our own investigations into civil claims for compensation. While the legal tests are different for criminal and civil claims, there’s a shared concern and interest to uncover why so many deaths and cases involving apparent serious harm have occurred. 

Using our expertise, and working with independent medical experts, we’ll investigate the treatment our clients received to determine if they’re entitled to compensation and do our utmost to ensure their needs are properly met.

Vital that patients' voices are heard

It’s important that answers can be provided as quickly as possible, and that any necessary lessons can be learned to improve patient safety. 

At the heart of this investigation are the patients and their families, so it’s crucial they’re kept informed, and to ensure their voices are heard. 

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting patients and families concerned about their care at Royal Sussex County Hospital at our dedicated Royal Sussex County Hospital claims section.