A HAMPSHIRE doctor, who prescribed drugs that lead to the deaths of three patients, has asked to be taken off the medical register.

Dr Jane Barton was at the centre of the inquiry into the deaths of a total of 12 elderly patients at the Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

She was found guilty of gross professional misconduct, and had a number of conditions added to her licence by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Now however, she wants to be completely removed from the register, which would mean she could no longer be a GP in the UK.

Dr Barton retired from the Forton Medical Centre in Gosport in April last year.

The GMC must now decided whether or not to grant the wish of Dr Barton to be removed from the register.

Relatives of the elderly people who died under her care have expressed bemusement as to the timing of her decision.

Iain Wilson, son of 74-year-old Robert Wilson who died in 1998, said: “It’s very strange – why has she done this out of the blue? Why couldn’t she have done it before?

“Of course I’m pleased that she’s doing this, she’s doing what the GMC should have done a long time ago.

“I’m concerned as to her reasons though.”