Families of Gosport War Memorial Hospital scandal call for a speedy resolution
It comes after families met with police earlier today to discuss the investigation
Last updated 12th Nov 2025
Families of the victims of the Gosport War Memorial Hospital scandal are calling for speed in the investigation.
A report in 2018 found more than 450 people died there due to the routine use of opioids - up until the year 2000.
It comes after families met with police earlier today to discuss the investigation, known as Operation Magenta.
Peta Holt, granddaughter of one of the victims, Gladys Richards, said: "How can it take this long to try and pursue the journey to justice?
"It's exhausting.
"I feel fatigued, but you've got to hang on to hope.
"Things like this never leave you, we never chose to be in this position.
"My grandmother was not dying and she wasn't even taking paracetamol, and yet she was treated as a palliative care patient, and so were hundreds of others.
"It would mean everything to get the truth out there."
She told us what she wants to see now.
She added: "I want to see speed, I would like to see no government intervention, I would like to see support for the Bishop in terms of his advocacy role."
Charles Farthing's step-father, Brian Cunningham, was one of the victims.
He said: "The way he died in my opinion was a very rough deal indeed.
"He deserved a humane life.
"He went into hospital with bed sores and came out in a coffin."
He told us his thoughts on today's meeting.
He said: "When I heard what the police had to say, I again felt disappointment that it's taken so long.
"Apparently we're in the final stage, that's all we can say.
We asked Mr Farthing what he wants to see now.
He said: "Obviously trying to do things quicker and I understand the enormity of the police problems, they can't move any quicker than they are, I guess.
"And decisions from the Crown Prosecution Service."
When asked how he feels about the investigation's length, he said: "It's been unforgivably long.
"We had the Bishop and his Gosport inquiry before that which came out with some pretty pointed conclusions.
"But it's taken seven years to go through from there.
"It's ridiculous and much, much too long."
Emma Jones is a partner in the Leigh Day human rights department and is representing some of the families.
She said: "It's in relation to what's going to happen next.
"Why can't the inquest happen alongside the criminal investigation.
"We've been talking about those issues and there are a number of potential steps that we can take to try and move the inquest process along.
"For people who have been told that there's no further action, I think that has been a very difficult thing to hear because that person, that family being told that that death isn't being investigated any further.
"These deaths will be referred to the Coroner so an investigation can happen.
"But one of the things that we've been talking about as a group is trying to get the Coroner to begin taking steps, procedual steps to get the inquests, they've been opened and adjourned, but let's get the admin sorted out.
"Otherwise, families are going to have to wait until the end of Operation Magenta.
"That could be another few years, and then inquests will be opened, which could be another few years to process.
"So let's try to do the two in parallel, maybe not the evidencial side of the Coronial process, but this is going to be quite a big and long drawn out process, so it needs to start happening now."
Police say they are continuing to submit case files to the Crown Prosecution Service and acting on its advice.
Deputy Chief Constable Neil Jerome of Operation Magenta, said: "We are continuing to keep affected family members updated on the progress of the independent investigation into deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital, which remains one of the largest and most complex in the history of UK policing.
"Whilst we have never provided anyone with an estimate of how long our enquiries will last, family members and the general public can be confident we are working as quickly and thoroughly as possible to ensure this is the decisive police investigation into what happened at the hospital.
"We are continuing the process of submitting case files to the Crown Prosecution Service and acting on its advice.
"It is the CPS’ decision as to whether or not any criminal charges can be brought.
"All deaths subject of our enquiries will be referred to the coroner, as is standard practice for investigations of this nature."