Sussex Police may seek Home Office support for Operation Bramber

Operation Bramber was launched by Sussex Police in May 2023 to look into allegations of surgical malpractice at the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust between 2015 and 2021. Since its inception, the scope of Operation Bramber, which examines general surgery and neurosurgery cases, has more than doubled to include over 200 cases – 90 of which involve potential manslaughter.

However, concerns have been raised at the pace of the investigation, with claims that Sussex Police is managing to deal with just three cases per month. At this rate, and provided no additional cases were added, it would take more than five years before the earliest stage a conclusion could be reached.

The force has previously advertised for additional resource to assist with Operation Bramber, giving an indication as to the significant pressure it is putting on Sussex Police.

Now, it is understood that Sussex Police is considering seeking assistance from the Home Office, most likely in the form of a Special Police Grant, which is available to police forces when one investigation requires an exceptional level of time or resource.

Of the cases under investigation are Tony Mardell, a successful business owner who was forced to give up his livelihood after being left dependent on carers following an operation at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

He was forced to wait over a year for surgery on his benign brain tumour, with his operation being cancelled three times despite worsening seizures.

Another case involves a woman who was admitted for surgery on a spinal cyst at the Royal Sussex, and needed to unexpectedly undergo two operations in the same day. It was only as a result of being contacted by Sussex Police years later that the second operation was actually performed due to a potentially fatal haematoma being discovered.

Both Tony and the woman are being represented by Nisha Sharma, principal lawyer at Slater and Gordon, who is also supporting several other individuals and their families impacted by poor standards of care within University Hospitals Sussex.

“The impact of these cases on people’s lives has been, and continues to be, absolutely devastating,” says Nisha, who is based in Slater and Gordon’s Brighton office.

“The care they have received has without question been unacceptable, but they are now desperately waiting to find out whether they or their loved one have been subject to criminal conduct – and that is a hugely distressing question to have hanging over their heads.

“It is a positive step that Sussex Police appear to be exploring all avenues in bringing Operation Bramber to the quickest possible conclusion – but the investigation must not compromise on its duty to leave no stone unturned and give families the answers they need and deserve.”