Four deaths spark Alderney GP raid

Tuesday 07 April 2015

Police investigating four deaths in Alderney have raided a GP’s surgery and a doctor has been suspended by the General Medical Council.

Police from Guernsey – including plain-clothed officers as well as some in uniform – carried out the five-hour raid on Friday morning, and have been conducting a search of the premises.

A short time later, the GMC announced that the head of the Eagle Medical Practice - 62-year-old Dr Rory Lyons - had been suspended after a hearing.

The investigation was sparked after suspicions were raised about four deaths in the last 18 months. The Daily Mail has reported this morning that two of the dead were cousins, Karen and Colin Cosheril.

Guernsey’s Health department carried out an initial investigation into one death, which led to concerns about three others, before they alerted the police, who raided the GP's surgery in Ollivier Street, St Anne's.

A statement from Guernsey’s Police Chief Patrick Rice said: “It is likely medical records will be seized, no-one has been arrested.

"Concerns were raised with the Health and Social Services Department following the death of a patient who had been under the care of the Eagle Medical Practice.

"A preliminary internal investigation found three further deaths of concern were identified before it was referred to police."

Alderney's population has dipped to below 2,000, and there are four GPs serving the island community.

Guernsey's Health and Social Services Department Chief Officer Carol Tozer said: "Following our initial investigation, a doctor was excluded from treating patients at the Mignot Memorial Hospital and the General Medical Council was informed.

"The GMC was also notified that the matter is now the subject of a police investigation.

"The GMC has confirmed that the doctor's practice is already restricted and he is being investigated."