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The review of deceased patients cared for by the doctors at the centre of the rheumatology scandal is to be extended back years further than originally planned – after it emerged that the deaths of at least 20 people could be linked to their treatment.
The Health Department yesterday revealed that the review of the deaths of patients treated by the two former rheumatology doctors would be extended to cover those who died up to a decade ago.
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".
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".
Pictured: Chief Officer of Health, Chris Bown with the Royal College of Physicians' review of Jersey's rheumatology department.
As a result, Health is currently conducting a review of patients who were treated by the two doctors – referred to as Dr Y and Dr Z in the damning review – from January 2019 until January 2022 and who have subsequently died.
The department yesterday confirmed that as many as 20 rheumatology patient deaths have been referred to the Viscount so far amid concerns they could be linked to incorrect treatment.
The review of deaths will now be extended to cover patients treated by Dr Y and Dr Z before January 2019.
Medical Director Patrick Armstrong said: “HCS has also decided to extend the timeline of this review of deceased patients to consider those who were under the care of Dr Y or Dr Z, and who died before 2019.
“This additional work will begin once a review of the current cohort of patients has been completed.”
When asked by Express how far back this review would go, Mr Armstrong said: “The Viscount has asked us to look as far back as we can, but there may be limitations to this.”
He explained that doctors are often only required to keep their medical notes for a period of eight to 10 years.
But Mr Armstrong said that there may be other ways to review the deaths of patients even in the absences of specific medical notes, such as by looking at GP records.
“We will look as far back as we can,” he added.
Pictured: Rheumatology deals with arthritis and several other conditions that affect the joints, tendons, muscle, ligaments.
The Medical Director yesterday also revealed further details of the compensation scheme for patients impacted by the scandal.
So far, 33 living patients have received ‘duty of candour’ letters to inform them that the care they received could have resulted in possible medical harm.
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 explained that a pilot group of patients would be used to facilitate settlement offers in respect of the wider group of affected patients.
He said that the aim of this pilot scheme was to make the process “easier and less traumatic” for those involved.
Mr Armstrong added: "We hope to be able to make any such settlement offers 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.
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