THE son of a patient who died at a controversial hospital today told of his shock at his mother's rapid deterioration while receiving rehabilitative care after suffering a stroke.

Inquests are being held at Portsmouth Coroner's Court into the death of 10 patients at the Gosport War Memorial Hospital (GWMH) more than 10 years ago.

Hampshire police have carried out a series of investigations into the treatment of 92 patients at the Hampshire hospital in the late 1990s but no prosecutions were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Their families believe that sedatives such as diamorphine were over-prescribed at the hospital and led to the death of their relatives who were receiving recuperative care.

As well as the police investigation, an inquiry was held by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) which criticised prescribing practices at the hospital.

Elsie Lavender, a widow from Gosport, suffered a stroke in early 1996 and was initially treated at the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar before being transferred to the GWMH on February 22, 1996.

The 83-year-old had suffered from diabetes for 50 years and as well as the stroke, she had suffered a head injury in a fall down the stairs at her home.

Her son Alan Lavender told the inquest that he understood that his mother was transferred to Daedalus stroke rehabilitation ward at GWMH for rehabilitative care.

But he added that he was shocked when Dr Jane Barton told him in a ''callous'' manner that his mother ''had come to the hospital to die''.

He said that he had asked Dr Barton when his mother would be able to return home as they had to make arrangements concerning her cat.

He said that Dr Barton had replied: ''You can get rid of the cat. Do you know your mother has come here to die.''

Mr Lavender added: ''I was shocked at the way this was said to me. I did not know that to be the case, I thought she had gone into the hospital for rehabilitation.

''I couldn't believe the cold way the news had been broken to me, as if it was pre-determined, I was shocked.''

Dr Barton, who was the primary clinician involved in the 10 cases, has been the only individual to be investigated but no charges were made against her.

Mrs Lavender was to die at the hospital on March 6, 1996, with the cause of death stated to be a stroke.

Mr Lavender said: ''I am concerned at the rapid deterioration of my mother when she went into Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

''I accept she was an elderly lady however she appeared to be making a full recovery from a stroke. She was strong and lucid.''

Alan Jenkins, representing Dr Barton, suggested that the severity of his mother's condition was explained to him during the course of several conversations.

Mr Lavender replied: ''It is hard to recall exactly what happened but I have described it as it appeared to me.''

The inquests, expected to last six weeks, are being held into the deaths of Arthur Cunningham, 79, from Gosport who died on September 26, 1998; Elsie Devine, 88, on November 21, 1999; Sheila Gregory, 91, of Gosport, on November 22, 1999 and Ruby Lake, 84, of Gosport, on August 21, 1998.

The other deaths are of Elsie Lavender, 83, of Gosport, on March 6, 1996; Geoffrey Packman, 67, of Emsworth, on September 3, 1999; Leslie Pittock, 82, on January 24, 1996; Helena Service, 99, of Gosport, on June 5, 1997; Enid Spurgin, 92, of Gosport, on April 13, 1999, and Robert Wilson, 75, of Sarisbury Green, on October 18, 1998.