231 patients sue Belfast Trust over suspended doctor
MORE than 230 litigation cases relating to treatment that suspended neurologist Dr Michael Watt provided to his patients have been laid against the Belfast Trust.
None of the cases have yet been settled.
Health Minister Robin Swann is still to sign off on a proposed compensation scheme which some of Dr Watt’s former patients could be eligible for, The Detail website reported.
In 2018, almost 3,000 patients were recalled as part of a probe into the work of Dr Watt at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.
A report into the recall, published last December by the Department of Health (DOH), found that more than 20% of these patients were misdiagnosed, while a further 329 patients were given “uncertain” diagnoses.
Dr Watt, who is employed by the Belfast Trust, remains suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC).
Findings from the second phase of the neurology recall were due to be published in June, however, their release has been delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Detail reported yesterday that 231 ligation cases have been brought against the Belfast Trust.
Lyndsay Eccleston, one of Dr Watt’s former patients, said the 231 figure “seems low”.
“I haven’t gone forward with a case because of the difficulty that I’ve had in getting information, such as medical records, from the trust,” she told The Detail.
“On top of that, I’ve been very ill. It is extremely difficult to take a case when you’re so sick.”
In February, it was reported that the first compensation case relating to the treatment of Dr Watt had been paid out. It was settled outside of court without an admission of liability, however, the individual who brought the case was a private patient of the neurologist and was not involved in the patient recall.
A compensation scheme for some of Dr Watt’s former patients was announced by the DOH in May 2018, however, it has not been signed off by Mr Swann.
“The work to develop how a streamlined clinical negligence process would operate in practice has yet to be completed in light of the need to redeploy resources in response to Covid-19,” a DOH spokesperson said.
“The details of the proposed approach will be submitted to the minister in due course.”
The Belfast Trust has confirmed that the 231 litigation cases are not connected to the proposed compensation scheme.
Meanwhile, the GMC believes it has “sufficient evidence” to progress its primary case relating to Dr Watt’s care, after investigating for over two years.
Richard Pengelly, permanent secretary at the DOH, established the Independent Neurology Inquiry into neurology services at the Belfast Trust in May 2018, which is ongoing.