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Health and Community Services in Jersey has been in contact with the police over a number of deaths of former rheumatology patients, it has emerged.
The department confirmed this afternoon that as many as 20 Jersey rheumatology patient deaths have been referred to the Viscount so far amid concerns they could be linked to incorrect treatment – and that it is preparing to start making settlement offers towards the end of this year.
It comes after an independent review of the island's rheumatology department "found the standard of care to be well below what the review team would consider acceptable for a contemporary rheumatological service".
Pictured: Chief Officer of Health, Chris Bown with the Royal College of Physicians' review of Jersey's rheumatology department.
Published at the start of 2024, the Royal College of Physicians' report revealed a "lack of governance, not just in rheumatology but across the healthcare organisation".
As a result, Health is now conducting a review of patients who were treated by the rheumatology service in the three-year period up to January 2022 and who have subsequently died.
The total number of patients in this review is 190 but, according to HCS, it is "likely that over the course of the review this number may change".
Any case in which concerns about care and treatment are raised is subject to an independent Mortality Learning Review (MLR), conducted by an independent clinician.
Just over 120 of the 190 cases have been reviewed so far, with approximately one-in-three of these requiring an MLR.
HCS today confirmed that 23 MLRs have been completed, and 20 cases have been referred to the Viscount.
Pictured: The case files of 20 deceased rheumatology patients have so far been referred to the Viscount because their deaths could be linked to the treatment they received.
It is expected that the review of deceased patients will continue throughout this year and beyond.
Updates on progress will be provided regularly to the Health Advisory Board and full information will be published when the review is complete.
HCS Medical Director Patrick Armstrong said: “The work to review patients from the service who have subsequently died is ongoing and we will be contacting the relatives of these patients should concerns about the care their loved ones received be raised.”
In a briefing this afternoon, he confirmed that Health has been in contact with the police over a number of rheumatology deaths.
Mr Armstrong explained: "Under Jersey law, as it relates to inquests and postmortem examinations, any person who has reason to believe that the deceased person died under such circumstances as may require investigation shall immediately notify to a police officer of the facts and circumstances relating to the death.
"HCS has been in contact with the police over a number of these deaths, and a number of cases have been referred to the Viscount at present."
The Medical Director also confirmed that all living patients who were reviewed as part of the rheumatology audits are now having their care assessed by independent specialist consultants.
He said: “To date, these assessments have concluded that the diagnosis, treatment, and care of 33 patients was below expected standards and may have resulted in possible medical harm.
“These patients are being sent ‘Duty of Candour’ letters offering each of them a sincere apology and confirming what they have already been told verbally."
Pictured: Rheumatology deals with arthritis and several other conditions that affect the joints, tendons, muscle, ligaments.
Mr Armstrong acknowledged that some of these patients may wish to seek legal redress and confirmed that HCS is "developing an approach to legal matters".
He added: "HCS hopes to be able to make any settlement offers, where appropriate, later this year either on a case-by-case basis or by way of a general compensation scheme."
Law firm Viberts said it was dealing with more than 110 inquiries from rheumatology patients with a potential claim against the Health department earlier this year.
The Medical Director also sought to reassure islanders that the recommendations made by the Royal College for improvements to the services are "progressing well".
"Of the 26 recommendations made, 16 have been fully implemented, and the remaining 10 are well on the way to being implemented," said Mr Armstrong.
“Specifically, a new Biologics Pharmacist has begun work and is reviewing HCS prescribing practice and implementing improved governance; we have improved access to physiotherapy and podiatry for rheumatology patients; and progress is being made to enrol Jersey into national audits.”
Pictured: The Hospital had to recall 20 women for breast cancer screening and review more than 2,700 scans over fears that a radiologist misdiagnosed patients.
Rheumatology is not the only Hospital department which has recently come under scrutiny.
The Hospital recently had to recall 20 women for breast cancer screening and review more than 2,700 scans over fears that a radiologist misdiagnosed patients.
And Express recently revealed that the Royal College has been invited to closely examine at least three other areas of Health.
A review of Orthopaedic Surgery and Theatres was due to be conducted in April, and a review of Neurology by the Royal College of Physicians has also been commissioned.
The independent board responsible for overseeing Health's operations also requested a review of General Surgical Acute on-call services back in September. That review was due to take place in April.
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