A hospital GP presided over an "institutionalised regime" which saw more than 600 patients have their lives cut short after they were prescribed powerful painkillers without medical justification, a report found.

Dr Jane Barton was held responsible for policies which led to the deaths of 656 patients who died at Gosport War Memorial Hospital while she worked there between 1988 and 2000.

The report said that there was "disregard for human life" and and it told how patients who were viewed as a "nuisance" were given drugs on syringe drivers which killed them within days.

Families of the dead urged the authorities to prosecute as Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the police and CPS would “carefully examine” whether new charges should be brought.

Charles Farthing, the step-son of Arthur “Brian” Cunningham, 79, who suffered from Parkinson’s Disease and dementia, said: "I’d like to see some action. Barton was utterly reckless in her prescribing, utterly reckless.