Doctors at a Hampshire hospital regularly over-prescribed powerful pain-killers, according to a report.

The investigation in to Gosport War Memorial hospital followed the deaths of nine elderly patients in 1998.

The report could not confirm whether any patients died as a result but said that patients were "put at risk".

A report published on Wednesday by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) found the use of pain-relieving and sedative drugs may have been "excessive".

The hospital failed to recognise a potential risk to patients, many of whom were frail, older people

Peter Homa, CHI chief executive

The CHI concluded that patients on Daedalus and Dryad wards were most affected by the hospital's actions.

Portsmouth Healthcare NHS Trust - which ran the hospital at the time - has been criticised for not reviewing procedures earlier.

The CHI says that the police investigation, patient complaints and internal data should have alerted the Trust to problems.

Peter Homa, the CHI's chief executive, said: "Portsmouth Healthcare NHS Trust failed to have the appropriate systems in place in 1998 to monitor the practice of some staff at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

'Excessive medication'

"It failed to recognise a potential risk to patients, many of whom were frail, older people, from the levels of analgesia being prescribed.

"As a result, it did not carry out a proper review of prescribing and excessive medication wasn't questioned."

Ian Piper wants patients to feel confident

The report says that although there were serious problems with procedures at the hospital in 1998, subsequent improvements have left the Commission with no concerns over standards there today.

The hospital is now run by the Fareham and Gosport Primary Care Trust.

Its chief executive Ian Piper said: "The last few years must have been a period of great anxiety for the families and staff concerned.

"It is important for the people of Gosport to have confidence in the services provided at the War Memorial Hospital and we believe the CHI report gives them this reassurance."

'No grounds'

Relatives of the patients who died have complained about the initial police investigation, saying it was not rigorous enough.

Those complaints are still being looked into, but Hampshire Police welcomed the CHI report.

A statement issued by the force read: "The police investigation was carried out to identify and focus on any potential criminal activity.

"The Crown Prosecution Service has consistently advised that there are no grounds for prosecution.

"The Commission's report hopefully reassures concerned relatives that this matter has been examined, and key recommendations made."