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Some of the rheumatology records currently under review are to be referred to the Viscount because it is "likely" that the patients died due to the treatment they received, it has emerged.
Deputy Medical Director Simon West broke the news to a panel of politicians yesterday – but noted that the process is still ongoing.
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: Interim 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, clinicians are currently reviewing the deaths of 182 former rheumatology patients to find out whether they were in any way linked to the healthcare they received.
Providing an update during a hearing of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel yesterday, Mr West said that the process involves a "mortality learning review".
This comprises of a review by an independent rheumatologist, an independent physician, and then a panel meeting with two other senior doctors.
Mr West explained that, if all reviewers collectively felt that there was a concern that needed to be raised to the Viscount, "then that would occur".
Pictured: The update was provided by Deputy Medical Director Simon West during a scrutiny hearing yesterday afternoon.
He continued: "So far we have reviewed, I think, 90 records – and out of that a very small proportion of patients have come to the need to actually make notification to the Viscount.
"That process will continue until all the records have been seen and then we will have to meet with the Viscount to determine what the Viscount wishes to do."
Deputy Renouf asked: "Can I just clarify – when you say they've been sent to the Viscount is that because the assessment of all of the professionals involved was that it is possible, or likely in fact, that deaths were caused as a result of the treatment?"
Mr West replied: "That is correct".
Deputy Lucy Stephenson, who also sits on the scrutiny panel, asked for specifics about the number of cases referred.
Mr West said: "I can't recall the exact number that we feel need to be referred to the Viscount.
"In the first cohort of patients there were 30 patients reviewed, that distilled down to 11 patients that we wished to undertake further review of, we reviewed down to a small number – in the order of ones – that we felt might need to be looked at by the Viscount."
He added: "But as I say, we've got to review all of those before we then make any further recommendations."
Deputy Stephenson also asked at what stage the families of the deceased patients would be informed.
Mr West explained that there is "a duty of candour process" and that none of the families would be notified "until the Viscount makes a determination" – although he said they would be aware the process was taking place.
Pictured: It is "looking likely" that some rheumatology deaths may have been caused by the care the patients received at the hospital.
He added: "That would be the normal practice, in terms of review, decision whether something needs to be taken forward with the family and then speaking to the family."
Mr West noted that doing otherwise would be "speculating" and that it would be "unfair" to give families "undue concern and raise anxieties".
Health Minister Tom Binet stressed that "it's a matter for the Viscount" and that "one has to wait until we find out what the Viscount has to say".
Pictured: Deputy Jonathan Renouf described the situation as "serious".
Speaking to Express after the hearing, Deputy Renouf said: "I think we have got a serious situation here where it is looking likely that people died as a result of care received in the hospital."
He acknowledged that it was "a difficult balancing act" regarding what stage families should be informed, but urged the Government to be "as open, transparent and timely as possible" throughout the whole process.
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