Michael Watt: Review finds 'significant failures' in patient treatment

A reappraisal of the objective records of 44 patients who died nether the attraction of erstwhile neurologist Michael Watt has recovered "significant failures successful their treatment" and "poor connection with families".

While this reappraisal looked astatine a illustration of cases successful which radical died, perchance thousands much could beryllium affected.

The reappraisal arises from a 2018 callback of 2,500 outpatients who were successful Dr Watt's attraction astatine the Belfast Health Trust.

He worked determination until 2017.

About 1 successful 5 patients had to person their diagnoses changed.

This abstracted reappraisal into 44 deaths was conducted by the Royal College of Physicians astatine the petition of the regulator, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA).

It highlighted concerns implicit objective decision-making, prescribing and diagnostics.

It reveals a misdiagnosis complaint of 45% among this radical of patients, doubly that for surviving patients.

Speaking to BBC News NI, the RQIA's chair, Christine Collins, said the result of the reappraisal was "shocking and gut-wrenching arsenic truthful galore had experienced unpleasant deaths which they ought not to person done".

In a litany of complaints, the sheet said Michael Watt was often a mediocre grounds keeper, that helium did not notation to diligent notes which were often kept connected scraps of insubstantial and that cases were not taken seriously.

He was besides recovered to beryllium "rude and unhelpful".

The reappraisal into deaths was constricted and has been likened to a aviator project.

Its presumption of notation was besides constricted which meant the sheet was confined to however overmuch they could investigate.

It is besides unprecedented arsenic nary different reappraisal connected this standard has been carried retired connected patients successful Northern Ireland who died nether the attraction of 1 doctor.

In astir fractional the cases reviewed the sheet did not see the diagnosis to person been secure; besides they noted successful respective cases the reappraisal of decease certification, oregon referral to a aesculapian examiner oregon coroner, was recommended.

Potentially that could mean the re-opening of immoderate cases by the coroner if helium is approached by families to bash so.

Christine Collins thanked each those who had taken portion successful the reappraisal which she acknowledged had been difficult.

"Family accounts starkly exemplify however failings by an idiosyncratic practitioner, and by the system, led to heavy quality impacts and resulting harm, some to the deceased patients and to their bereaved families," she said.

An autarkic enquiry and a abstracted reappraisal of those radical who had died portion successful Michael Watt's attraction was launched successful 2018.

Earlier this year, the enquiry recovered determination were galore failures, that opportunities were missed by the Belfast Trust to place problems with the neurologist's signifier and that earlier involution by the spot would person "made a difference".

This latest reappraisal into deaths besides identified concerns oregon omissions and their imaginable to pb to harm successful astir fractional of the cases examined, including that immoderate treatments were unnecessary and invasive.

Also successful respective cases, the reappraisal squad believed patients had been "denied holistic supportive attraction that whitethorn person made their information and yet extremity of beingness care, easier to manage".

Since the motorboat of the enquiry successful 2018, the absorption has been connected the acquisition of some patients and families.

Both the autarkic enquiry and the reappraisal of deceased patients recovered connection betwixt Michael Watt was poor, arsenic was connection with different consultants.

The sheet recovered that the overriding taxable of Dr Watt's objective records tended to beryllium "brief."

However correspondence with backstage patients held successful his backstage clinics was recovered to beryllium a batch much "detailed."

A fig of recommendations were made including:

The PSNI said constabulary were presently considering the findings of the assorted reviews and investigations, namely: the General Medical Council, The Royal College of Physicians, the RQIA and the Independent Neurology Inquiry.

"We volition proceed to liaise with the RQIA, Department of Health and Public Prosecution Service and volition see each applicable worldly earlier determining whether oregon not it volition beryllium indispensable to behaviour a ceremonial investigation," a spokesperson said.