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10 January 2025
Following the closing date of 31 December 2024 for families who wished to have their deceased family member’s clinical records reviewed as part of the Neurology Deceased Patient Review (DPR), RQIA will engage with any affected family who made contact during this time period.
28 November 2024
On 28 November 2024, The Department of Health has issued a reminder that 31 December 2024 is the closing date for families who wish to have their deceased family member’s clinical records reviewed as part of the Neurology Deceased Patient Review (DPR).
On 3 July 2024, the Health Minister announced the commencement a further phase of the Neurology Deceased Patient Review (Phase Three). This Phase comprises 18 families which have approached the RQIA and confirmed that they wish to proceed with an Expert Review in relation to a deceased family member.
Further to the 18 families within Phase Three, a six-month period was provided for any additional families who are interested in having their deceased family member’s clinical records reviewed to contact the RQIA to explore involvement in the process. That period concludes on 31 December 2024.
RQIA will engage with any affected family who makes contact by this date. Following this process, the Department of Health and the RQIA will clarify next steps for this stage of the Neurology Deceased Patients’ Review.
Families can contact the RQIA by:
- Freephone number 0800 052 0012 between 10am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, to speak to a member of the Family Liaison Team;
- Emailing an enquiry to: expert.review@rqia.org.uk
The RQIA Family Liaison Team will engage with families to understand: their wishes, needs and concerns; whether their deceased relative’s case is likely to fall within the scope of the Expert Review of Records of Deceased Patients; and to provide information on the Expert Review of Records of Deceased Patients to date.
The Family Liaison Team will ensure that families interested in participating in a clinical record review process, are fully informed about the nature of the process, the potential benefits, and the potential for adverse impact. The RQIA will identify families who wish to proceed with a clinical record review process, will remain in regular contact with families and will ensure families are aware of how to access counselling and advocacy support.
November 2024
RQIA has recently published a flyer, advising of the next steps and future approach to the Neurology Deceased Patients Review (DPR). You can view this flyer here. Any further families of deceased patients of Dr Watt who wish to explore involvement with the DPR should contact RQIA, no later than 31 December 2024.
July 2024
RQIA welcomes Minister Nesbitt’s announcement on the next steps and future approach to the Neurology Deceased Patients Review (DPR).
RQIA will begin the planning, preparation and initiation of Phase 3 of this review process. This Phase will involve the further 18 families who have approached RQIA to confirm that they wish to proceed with an expert review of their relative’s clinical records. RQIA has contacted these families to advise that the expert review process will now commence.
In addition, the Department of Health has asked any further families of deceased patients of Dr Watt who wish to explore involvement with the DPR to contact the RQIA, no later than 31 December 2024.
To read RQIA's full statement, click here.
You can also access the Minister of Health’s written statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly here.
November 2023
Deceased Patient Records Review (Dr Watt): Next Phase
Since the publication of the Report on the Expert Review of Records of Deceased Patients (Neurology) in November 2022, RQIA has continued to take forward the recommendations made by the Expert Panel and the actions set out by the Authority. This includes ensuring the findings of the Review are shared and that we strengthen how we review and inspect services.
In October 2023, RQIA’s Chief Executive and Clinical Lead attended the Northern Ireland Assembly’s All Party Group for Neurology to provide an update on the Review, and the actions being taken forward by RQIA.
Families of a further 15 deceased patients of Dr Watt have already approached RQIA, expressing an interest in having their relative's clinical records included in a further phase of the Review.
We are now engaging with these families to provide information on what a review of the clinical record of a deceased patient can potentially provide, and about its limitations. We are also providing information from the feedback received through an independent evaluation of the process from many of the 44 families, about the personal impact such a review process can have on family members.
Families of deceased patients of Dr Watt who wish to contact RQIA to explore involvement in the process are welcome to do so.
Please:
- phone on Freephone number 0800 052 0012 between 10am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, to speak to a member of our Family Liaison Team; or leave a voice message and our Family Liaison Team will get back to you
- email us at expert.review@rqia.org.uk
February 2023
The Department of Health has recently published support materials for patients and families involved in the neurology recall. You can access these support materials and a series of frequently asked questions on the Department’s website: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/neurology-recall-compensation
November 2022
On 29 November 2022, RQIA published the Report on the Expert Review of Records of Deceased Patients (Neurology). You can read this report here.
Update to NI Assembly Health Committee
You can read RQIA's recent statement to the Health Committee (24 March 2022) in relation to this review here.
Background to this Review
On 1 May 2018, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Belfast Trust) announced a recall of 2,500 patients in relation to concerns regarding the clinical practice of Dr Watt, a consultant neurologist employed by the Belfast Trust.
On 2 May 2018, the Permanent Secretary to the Department of Health announced the establishment of an Independent Neurology Inquiry, chaired by Brett Lockhart QC. The Health Minister converted this inquiry to a Statutory Public Inquiry on 11 December 2020, under the Inquiries Act 2005.
The Permanent Secretary also directed the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA), Northern Ireland’s regulatory body for health and social care, to: