Families Seek Independent Review of 203 Patients After Suspended Doctor Linked to 3 Deaths
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Aug 11
Families Seek Independent Review of 203 Patients After Suspended Doctor Linked to 3 Deaths
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Aug 11
Summary
More than 200 former patients of suspended lung consultant Veronica Varney are at the center of a demand for an external review, after lawyers said the hospital cannot credibly investigate its own failings.
An RCP review of 28 interstitial lung disease cases from 2019 to 2022 found three patients died prematurely, 12 suffered permanent or long-term harm, and seven missed treatment that could have improved their lives.
Varney, who left St Helier Hospital in 2023 and is now suspended on an interim basis, was found to have pushed off-label treatments and unsupported advice, including avoiding flu and Covid vaccines and rapeseed oil.
St George's, Epsom and St Helier trust said it has accepted all recommendations, apologized to families and plans to review another 203 ILD patients over up to two years.
The dispute now centers on who runs that wider investigation, with families arguing only independent experts can restore trust after the care failures.