The government has received over 40 letters of claim in relation to treatment provided by the rheumatology department, it has emerged – with five cases referred to the States of Jersey Police.
Potential legal claims against the General Hospital’s rheumatology department started gathering pace last year after it emerged that hundreds of patients were given powerful drugs they did not need or were misdiagnosed.
The issues were unearthed following a review by the Royal College of Physicians, which described the standard of care as “well below what the review team would consider acceptable” for a contemporary rheumatological service.
Last year, the Health Department said it was “developing an approach to legal matters” and hoped to make settlement offers by the end of 2024 – either on a case-by-case basis or by way of a general compensation scheme.
But in May it emerged that plans for any kind of group compensation scheme for rheumatology patients had been scrapped.
In the response to a request made under the Freedom of Information Law, the government this week confirmed that 42 letters of claim have been received in relation to rheumatology care.
None of these claims have yet proceeded to court, and none have been settled outside of court.
Five living patients have had their cases referred to police, and 33 deceased patients have been referred to the viscount.
It comes after a total of 67 duty of candour letters were issued to rheumatology patients in Jersey. A duty of candour letter is provided to service users, their family, or carers after something has gone wrong with their care.
To assess whether an individual has suffered medical harm, a comprehensive review of their health care is completed by an independent consultant rheumatologist on the specialist register.
The government added that the assessment on harm suffered is based on a clinical audit tool which has been approved by the Royal College of Physicians, along with in-person reviews and/or clinic attendances.
It last month emerged that one of the doctors at the centre of the rheumatology review had restrictions on his clinical practice lifted.
Dr Michael Richardson is now permitted to undertake clinical practice in general medicine and geriatrics, subject to revalidation.
But, following queries from Express, the Health Minister confirmed that the former consultant is “not currently employed by Health and Care Jersey”.
