‘Deeply concerning’: that is the view of expert medical negligence solicitors after reports emerged that an NHS radiology consultant at the Royal Derby Hospital has been investigated over the death of a patient, with other patients found to have suffered avoidable harm.

Reports in The Sun indicated that the radiology consultant at the hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, had been under review since November 2020 after concerns were raised by colleagues in the cardiology department.

A review has found that hundreds of patients who underwent MRI scans on their heart between 2013 and 2020 had suffered low, moderate and even severe harm.

The report says that, in total, 1,224 cases in that period which involved the consultant had been considered as part of the review at the Royal Derby Hospital.

The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust has contacted all patients whose cases were considered as part of the review. It is believed that the consultant, who has not been named, left the Trust prior to the review being published.

‘Worrying news and people will need support’: our experts’ view

Chris Gresswell-Green , a Director in the specialist medical negligence team at Switalskis, said the news would be a worry for any of the patients concerned, particularly due to the very high number of cases which have been highlighted by the Trust.

Chris said: “It’s deeply concerning to see both the scale of this issue at the Royal Derby Hospital and the potential, long-term impact this could have had on so many patients and their families.

“Anyone undergoing an MRI scan on their heart or any other part of their body rightly expects this to be done properly and effectively. Now they have found out that there were issues with their scan and that so many people have suffered harm, they will inevitably have questions about whether their own condition and their outcome have been negatively affected.

“Avoidable harm to so many people is a very worrying situation and anyone who has been affected by this after their cardiac MRI will need support and specialist advice.

“The review says it has considered physical harm from these avoidable errors but it has not considered the very real prospect of the psychological harm which may have been caused to patients if they have suffered a misdiagnosis or a delayed diagnosis , both of which can have a long-term impact on their physical and mental health.

“We’d urge anyone who had a heart MRI scan carried out by the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust between 2013 and 2020 to seek urgent advice from specialist medical negligence solicitors. They deserve answers and to know that the lessons that needed to be learnt from this terrible situation have been learnt.”

‘Deeply sorry’: an apology from the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

A statement issued by the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are deeply sorry to the patients and families affected by the findings of this review.

“While the review found that most patients did not experience harm, we recognise that, sadly, this was not the case for everyone and we offer our sincere and unreserved apology for the distress and harm caused.

“We have taken this extremely seriously, been open with those affected, and have made significant changes to how cardiac MRI scans are reviewed, including ensuring scans are routinely discussed by teams of specialists rather than individuals working alone, alongside additional independent checks and audits.

“We are committed to learning from what happened and to ensuring these improvements lead to safer care and better outcomes for our patients.”

They continued: “We know that no report can take away the worry or harm experienced by patients and families. We are very sorry that this happened.

“We are committed to learning from this, being open about what has gone wrong, and making meaningful improvements so that patients can feel confident in the care we provide.”

When can a delayed referral amount to medical negligence?

Being told that there may have been an issue with the interpretation of a medical scan can leave patients and their families with many unanswered questions.

In cases involving a possible misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, patients may not always know whether an earlier or accurate diagnosis could have made a difference to their treatment or outcome. It can also be difficult to understand what happened, who was responsible for reviewing a scan or test result, and whether opportunities to identify and treat a condition were missed.

Not every error or delay will amount to medical negligence. However, a claim may be possible where there is evidence that the care provided fell below an appropriate standard and that this resulted in avoidable harm.

For example, this may include situations where:

• a scan or test result was incorrectly interpreted;
• important findings were missed or not acted upon;
• a diagnosis was delayed or incorrect;
• appropriate further investigations were not carried out; or
• a delay in diagnosis or treatment resulted in avoidable injury or a worsening of a patient's condition.

Whether a claim is possible will depend on the individual circumstances. In most cases, independent medical evidence will be needed to establish whether the care provided was negligent and whether this caused avoidable harm.

Understanding what happened to you

At Switalskis, our specialist medical negligence solicitors can help patients and families investigate concerns about delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis and failures in medical care.

We can obtain and review medical records, investigate what happened and, where appropriate, work with independent medical experts to establish whether the standard of care was acceptable and whether any failings caused avoidable harm.

We understand that, for many people, it is not simply about pursuing compensation. It is also about getting answers, understanding what happened and ensuring that lessons are learned.

If you underwent a cardiac MRI scan at the Royal Derby Hospital between 2013 and 2020 and are concerned that a delay or error in diagnosis may have affected your health, our experienced medical negligence solicitors can provide confidential advice about your circumstances.

Specialist medical negligence solicitors

For compassionate advice from our experienced medical negligence team , contact us today.

Call our dedicated medical negligence support line for free on 0800 9956 068 or email help@switalskis.com .