Summary
An expert review of the clinical records of 44 deceased patients who had been under the care of neurologist Dr Michael Watt has found there were “significant failures” in their treatment and care.
Dr Watt, a former Belfast Health and Social Care Trust consultant neurologist, was at the centre of Northern Ireland’s largest ever recall of patients, which began in 2018, after concerns were raised about his clinical work.
More than 4,000 of his former patients attended recall appointments.
At the direction of the Department of Health, in August 2021, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) commissioned the Royal College of Physicians to undertake an expert review of the clinical records of certain deceased patients who had been under the care of Dr Watt, with the intention to understand his clinical practice, to ensure learning for others and to help make care better and safer in the future.
Content
The report identified:
- Poor practice including a lack of proper clinical investigation.
- Inaccurate diagnosis.
- Poor prescribing practices.
- Poor record keeping.
- Lack of openness and effective communication.
- Inappropriate treatment
- The risks of clinicians working in isolation.
The expert panel has made specific recommendations for RQIA including:
- Ensuring that patients have direct access to doctors’ letters.
- Ensuring proper multidisciplinary team working.
- Tackling isolation in clinicians working alone.
These important recommendations are at the heart of addressing the failings of the care and treatment provided. Clinicians must be supported to adopt good practice, especially in using up to date best practice routes to diagnosis and treatments. They should be encouraged and facilitated to seek the support of peers and others to challenge and review their analysis and thinking. These are issues, not only for neurology services, but throughout the health and social care system.
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