Police expand NHS death inquiry to heart patients

A major investigation into the care of more than 200 NHS cases has been expanded to include a "small number" of heart patients, confirms Sussex Police.

The force is looking into allegations of medical negligence at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton between 2015 and 2021 as part of Operation Bramber.

Officers are examining claims about preventable deaths and injuries in the trust's neurosurgery and general surgery departments.

University Hospital Sussex NHS Trust, which runs seven hospitals across East and West Sussex, said it would continue to "fully co-operate" with the police investigation.

Initially, 40 deaths were investigated as part of Operation Bramber, which was launched by the police in 2023, after both a coroner and two consultant surgeons at the hospital raised concerns.

A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: "As a result of a further witness coming forward during the course of the investigation, police are now starting to review a small number of cases relating to cardiothoracic surgery at the Royal Sussex County Hospital."

And added: "Cases relating to neurosurgery and general surgery at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton between 2015 and 2021 have started to be reviewed by specialist consultant surgeons who are totally independent of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

"They have been commissioned to provide expert medical opinion on individual cases, and their reports will be considered alongside information obtained from our police enquiries to determine whether any cases will be taken forward and if so, which ones."

And continued that it will be a "thorough and transparent investigation", but it will likely take time to complete.

Witnesses have been encouraged to come forward.

A letter sent to some families by the police, and seen by the BBC, states experts began reviewing individual patient cases in October 2024.

It admitted it will be a "protracted process" and that they cannot provide a "reasonable estimate" of how long it will take.

It said: "From the cases assessed so far, the medical expert reviews have not revealed any evidence that would support a criminal investigation.

"The patients and patient families involved in those cases have been updated directly as to the outcome of those reviews."

Prof Katie Urch, chief medical officer at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust, said: "We will do everything we can to help their team to give families the clarity they need, as quickly as possible.

"Safety is always our priority, and we remain absolutely committed to acting immediately on behalf of our patients if the police investigation should ever raise any concerns about the standards of hospital services being delivered now."

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