On 1 May 2018, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust announced a recall of 2,500 patients in relation to concerns regarding the clinical Practice of consultant Neurologist, Dr Michael Watt. On May 2 2018, the Permanent Secretary directed the RQIA to commission an expert review of the records of all patients or former patients of Dr Watt who had died over the previous ten years (2008-2018). This is known as The Expert Review of Records of Deceased Patients of Dr Watt, or ‘the Expert Review’.
Given the sensitivity and complexity of the work, RQIA subsequently agreed with the Department of Health (DoH) that a phased approach to ‘the Expert Review’ should be undertaken.
Phase 1 pertained to a period of significant planning and preparation, including the development of a Legal Framework, operational protocols and appropriate arrangements to enable progression to the next phase.
In Phase 2, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) was commissioned to undertake an expert review of 44 cases using Structured Judgement Review methodology to examine the records and, where available, take into consideration the testimony of families.
Phase Three Group 1
RQIA commissioned the RCP to undertake an Expert Review of the clinical records of 18 deceased patients following the Minister for Health’s written statement on 03July 2024 on the next steps and future approach to the Expert Review. The primary purpose being to provide the opportunity to impart answers, if possible, to the bereaved families in respect of the quality of care and treatment provided to their deceased relatives. RQIA anticipate completion of this phase by December 2025.
The Minister’s statement provided a six-month period for any additional families interested in having their deceased family member’s clinical records reviewed, to contact the RQIA to explore involvement in the process by no later than 31 December 2024.
Phase Three Group 2 – the final phase of the Expert Review
Following a further written statement by the Minister for Health on 09 July 2025, RQIA commissioned the RCP to undertake a further and final Expert Review of the clinical records of 8 deceased patients whose families had contacted RQIA prior to the Ministerial deadline of 31 December 2024. RQIA will use the same methodology as that of Phase Three Group 1, and anticipate completion of this final phase of the Expert Review by summer 2026.
You can read RQIA Report on the Expert Review of Records of Deceased Patients (Neurology), published in November 2022, by clicking on the following link: https://www.rqia.org.uk/download/10/deceased-patients-review/3245/report-on-the-expert-review-of-records-of-deceased-patients-neurology-published-november-2022.pdf
Key Documents
You can access a range of documents associated with the Expert Review, below. This includes minutes of Steering Group Meetings, as well as Ethical and Legal Framework.