Patients and families of patients treated by former St Helier Hospital respiratory consultant Dr Veronica Varney for interstitial lung disease (ILD) must be kept fully informed as further reviews into their care take place, say specialist medical negligence solicitors at Switalskis.

This follows a review by Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust which identified 216 cases between 2019 and 2023 where the care provided to ILD patients by Dr Varney failed to meet best practice guidance. Of those patients, 91 have since died.

Dr Varney was suspended from practising as a doctor in the UK on 5 August 2026 following an interim suspension by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).

The Royal College of Physician’s (RCP) review examined 28 patient cases from Epsom and St Heliers Hospital Trust and identified concerns including delays in treatment, departures from clinical guidelines, unsupported treatment advice and patients being discharged without necessary further investigations.

The review also found that Dr Varney frequently recommended off-label treatments and provided advice without an evidence base, including advising some patients to avoid flu vaccinations, Covid vaccinations and rapeseed oil.

The RCP concluded that delays to, and departures from, evidence-based care may have contributed to irreversible lung damage, poorer quality of life and premature death in some patients.

Its review also identified three premature deaths where patients had missed opportunities to receive potentially life-extending treatment. It also found that 12 patients suffered permanent or long-term harm, while a further seven patients missed out on treatment that could have improved their quality of life or avoided further procedures.

“Patients and families must be kept informed”: our expert view

The Epsom and St Heliers Hospital Trust says it has accepted and acted on all of the RCP's recommendations and has apologised to patients and families affected.

It has also announced plans to review the care of a further 203 ILD patients treated by Dr Varney since 2019. The process is expected to take up to two years.

There have been calls for greater independence in the review of patients' care. While the further review process is ongoing, the medical negligence experts at Switalskis believe that transparency and communication must be at its heart.

Patients and their families should not be left uncertain about whether their care is being reviewed, what the review will involve or when they can expect to receive answers about their individual circumstances.

Chris Gresswell-Green , Director and specialist medical negligence solicitor at Switalskis, who has significant and wide-ranging experience in supporting clients where there has been delayed or mismanaged treatment, said:

“It is deeply concerning that such serious concerns have been identified in relation to the treatment of patients with serious and potentially life-threatening lung conditions.

“There have been calls for the further review process to be carried out independently. Given the seriousness of the concerns already identified, we believe transparency and confidence in the review process must be a priority.

“An apology only goes so far and can do nothing to remedy the harm that has been caused through negligent care. Patients and their families deserve clear answers about the care they received and reassurances that any further failings will be identified and addressed to prevent future patients suffering avoidable harm.”

Concerns about Dr Varney’s treatment of patients with ILD first emerged in 2019. However, the Trust has acknowledged that the concerns were not sufficiently addressed at the time, partly due to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Varney was restricted from seeing patients by St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group in January 2023 and was formally referred to the General Medical Council (GMC) in September 2024. She was placed under interim restrictions in February 2026 before being fully suspended on 5 August 2026.

What does this mean for patients who received treatment from Dr Varney

Patients who received treatment from Dr Varney at St Helier Hospital may have concerns about whether their care was appropriate.

Those affected may include patients who experienced:

• A missed or delayed referral to a specialist team
• A failure to provide appropriate treatment
• Inappropriate or unsupported treatment
• A failure to properly investigate symptoms
• A delayed diagnosis
• Delayed treatment
• A failure to follow relevant clinical guidelines
• Being discharged without appropriate further investigations

Patients who have been diagnosed with interstitial lung disease or another serious lung condition and were treated by Dr Varney may wish to seek independent legal advice about their individual circumstances.

Specialist medical negligence solicitors supporting patients and families – how we can help

Our specialist medical negligence solicitors support patients and families who have suffered harm as a result of delayed diagnosis, delayed treatment, inappropriate treatment or other failings in medical care.

We have particular experience in cases involving serious respiratory conditions and delayed or mismanaged treatment.

If you or a family member was treated by Dr Veronica Varney at St Helier Hospital and you have concerns about the care you received, our specialist medical negligence team may be able to advise you on your legal rights and the options available.

How Switalskis medical negligence experts can support you

For compassionate advice from our experienced medical negligence team , contact us today. Call 0800 995 6068  or email help@switalskis.com .