An ongoing police investigation into allegations of medical negligence and an alleged cover-up at the Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH) in Brighton has expanded to include more recent cases. What began as an inquiry into incidents between 2015 and 2020 under Operation Bramber now reportedly includes cases from 2021.
As a result, concerns about patient safety at the hospital have intensified. Internal sources allege that unsafe surgical practices may still be occurring, raising serious questions about standards of care within certain departments.
The investigation first came to public attention after The Guardian reported that Sussex Police were examining the deaths of around 40 patients. These deaths occurred across the hospital’s general surgery and neurosurgery departments.
Initially, the focus was on allegations of medical negligence. However, investigators have since uncovered claims involving severe patient harm and avoidable deaths. Consequently, the scope of the inquiry has widened significantly.
According to individuals with direct knowledge of the situation at RSCH, serious issues remain unresolved. They claim that some surgeons continue to present a risk to patients. Furthermore, allegations of avoidable deaths and poor surgical outcomes persist.
Taken together, these claims underline the seriousness of the concerns and the importance of the ongoing investigation.
One of the more recent cases involves Lewis Chilcott, a 23-year-old who died at RSCH in July 2021. It is alleged that an error during a tracheostomy procedure led to infection and a fatal arterial haemorrhage.
Following an inquest, the coroner concluded that Mr Chilcott’s death resulted from a rare complication of the procedure. However, the complication was believed to have been caused by an improperly positioned tube.
Another case involves Jugal Sharma, aged 63, who was left severely disabled after surgery in April 2020. According to his family, a misdiagnosis led to an unnecessary operation. During that procedure, Mr Sharma is said to have suffered a stroke that initially went unnoticed.
Subsequently, the tumour believed to be an aggressive grade 4 cancer was later identified as a less serious grade 2 tumour. Notably, the consultant involved had previously been named in a detailed report outlining alleged surgical errors linked to patient harm and deaths.
Families affected by these incidents, along with the wider public, are now awaiting the outcome of the police investigation. Many hope it will provide clarity, accountability, and reassurance about patient safety at Royal Sussex County Hospital.
If you believe that you or a family member may have been affected by medical negligence at Royal Sussex County Hospital between 2015 and 2021, our Medical Negligence team at NJS Law is ready to help.
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