10 September 2026

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) has today published its final report into the Review of Records of Deceased Patients of Michael Watt, former Consultant Neurologist. This Report brings together the findings, recommendations and legacy actions from all phases of the Review.

The findings, that have been uncovered since the first publication in November 2022 and reinforced through the Review of further records of deceased patients now published today, make stark reading. The Review found that a combination of poor diagnostic practice, inadequate communication, isolated clinical decision-making, weak multidisciplinary oversight and a lack of patient-centred care resulted in standards of care that frequently fell below expectations. In some cases harm was caused through delayed or misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and failures in communication and support.

The majority of family concerns raised were fully or partially upheld by the independent Expert Panel who reviewed the records and reviewed the family testimonies. The collective Review provides powerful evidence of the devastating impact of poor clinical practice on patients and their families, underlining the need for patient safety and quality of care to remain central to professional and management practice.

RQIA takes this opportunity to pay tribute to the families involved. Their testimonies provided evidence and understanding that clinical records alone could not offer. It comes at a cost to those families through the sharing of personal experience to contribute to this Review while grieving for lost loved ones. We trust that in giving visibility to the impact of the failings identified, both for deceased loved ones and for their families, may provide some small solace. Add to that, actions have been taken to provide a legacy from this Review.

As part of its legacy commitments, RQIA co-developed a Patient Safety Culture Framework for Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland. This has resulted in ‘Being Human’, a co-produced HSC safety culture framework now being tested and used across health and social care organisations to identify embedded practices and behaviours, and drive a positive patient, and staff, safety culture across the whole system. Christine Collins, RQIA Chair, said: “I have no hesitation in saying that, in my view, the strong and clear focus now being placed on patient safety across the system is due to the courage and determination of patients and families to seek the truth and insist on change, so that others do not suffer as they have suffered.

RQIA recognises that such family involvement comes at a personal cost. How painful it is to share the experience of losing a loved one, and how brave and public-spirited it is to do so. We can only thank all the families involved, and hope that this Review, and the actions taken as a result, stand as a positive legacy.”

You can read RQIA’s report at the following link: Deceased Patients Review (Neurology) | Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority