THE deaths of 14 more patients of GP Howard Martin are being investigated by police, it was revealed last night.

Durham Police confirmed they are looking into 13 cases referred by Sedgefield Primary Care Trust (PCT) and the death of a woman patient whose relatives contacted them directly.

The inquiries follow a review by the PCT that scrutinised case notes relating to Dr Martin, from 1994 to 2001.

In December, a jury at Teesside Crown Court unanimously found the 71-year-old not guilty of murdering three seriously ill patients with large overdoses of morphine.

The three - Frank Moss, 59, Stanley Weldon and Harry Gittins, both 74 - were patients of Dr Martin when he was a partner at the Jubilee Medical Group, which has surgeries in Newton Aycliffe, Shildon and Eldon.

Last night, the PCT confirmed it had passed 13 cases to the police and said it would co-operate with any further investigations.

Nigel Porter, chief executive of the trust, said it had started to review the cases last summer.

He said: "When such serious issues are raised within the NHS it is normal practice for a review to be carried out.

"This review related to cases where Dr Martin treated patients shortly before their death and where prescribed drugs were used.

"The PCT will co-operate fully with any further investigations that might be necessary by the coroner or any other professional body."

The bodies of Mr Moss, Mr Wheldon, Mr Gittens and 84-year-old William Kerr were exhumed before last year's high-profile court case. Full inquests into the four men are still to be completed.

The latest investigation is still in its early stages, and it is not clear whether there will be a need for more exhumations.

Dr Martin now lives in Penmaenmawr, Gwynedd, North Wales. His solicitor, Sara Mason, said he did not want to comment on the latest revelations.

Detective Superintendent Harry Stephenson, who has been leading a two-year inquiry, said last night: "We are duty bound to examine the 13 new referrals handed to us by the trust.

"At this stage we cannot pre-judge the outcome, but we will be looking for advice and guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the coroner on the best way forward.

"Additionally, I can confirm we have received a complaint directly from a family about the circumstances of a woman's death.

"Officers from the major crime team will also look at the issues surrounding this lady's death.

"Again, it is likely that this death will be the subject of discussion between the police, the CPS and the coroner."

Gillian Coates, daughter of Harry Gittins, said: "We shall have to wait and see what the outcome is."

Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle is already examining a further 12 deaths - five women and seven men - which were handed to him in December by the police.

Anyone who may have any concerns about family patients of Dr Martin can contact the PCT on 0191-301 3820 between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday