MSG: "Dr Patterson's views are not shared by his medical colleagues"

Wednesday 22 December 2021

The Medical Specialist Group has distanced itself from one of its most experienced consultants after he was heavily critical of the Bailiwick's management of covid-19.

The Chairman of the Medical Specialist Group said the views expressed by cardiologist Dr Dean Patterson "are not shared by his medical colleagues at the MSG".

The Medical Director of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital and the Chairman of the States' Civil Contingencies Authority have also countered Dr Patterson's criticism. 

Earlier this year, Dr Patterson wrote to the Civil Contingencies Authority outlining multiple concerns with the Bailiwick's management of the pandemic.

Yesterday, Dr Patterson told Express that he stands by his concerns and intends to write to Deputy Ferbrache again soon.

Pictured: Dr Patterson’s letter can be read in full HERE. In it, he offers a number of alternatives to the policies adopted by the Civil Contingencies Authority and other States' committees.

Dr Gary Yarwood, Chairman of the Medical Specialist Group, where Dr Patterson has worked since 2006, distanced the Group from Dr Patterson’s views on covid-19.

“Dean was expressing his personal views in a private letter, which he is entitled to do. Freedom of speech and the ability to ask questions are fundamental in our society," said Dr Yarwood.

"However, he is not speaking on behalf of the MSG and his views are not shared by his medical colleagues at the MSG.

“It is clear in this third wave of covid that, while there are more infections, we are seeing greatly reduced hospitalisations and a greatly reduced number of deaths in the UK and globally than in the second wave. This improvement demonstrates the value of vaccination.

“The covid-19 vaccines are saving lives and, along with the overwhelming majority of medics and scientists across the world, our position at the MSG is fully supportive of the vaccination programme.

"We urge adults who have not yet taken up the vaccine to do so and for everyone to get their booster as soon as they are eligible, which is absolutely our best means of protection.”

Pictured: Dr Dean Patterson, the author of a letter which strongly criticises the Bailiwick's response to covid-19, is a Consultant Physician and Cardiologist at the Medical Specialist Group, which is pictured above. 

Dr Peter Rabey, Medical Director of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, said: “It is of course important to have open discussions and ask questions about covid-19, the pandemic response and vaccines and we wouldn’t want to discourage that.

“When it comes to covid vaccines, there’s clear and overwhelming support from the vast, vast majority of doctors in the Bailiwick and internationally.  

“The Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell which advises the Civil Contingencies Authority includes a range of scientists and doctors from different backgrounds, including public health, consultant physicians, intensive care doctors and GPs. The Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell is unanimous in its support for the vaccine roll-out.  

“Its success is self-evident for anyone to see. The most-recent wave saw far more cases than we had ever previously experienced during the pandemic and yet also far fewer deaths without having a lockdown or border restrictions in place."

The Chairman of the Civil Contingencies Authority, Deputy Peter Ferbrache, thanked Dr Patterson for sharing his “sincere and passionately held view on these matters,” but rejected the central claims made in Dr Patterson's letter.

Deputy Ferbrache's response to Dr Patterson is reproduced in full below.