TWO doctors at the centre of a critical review of the Hospital’s rheumatology department are ‘no longer undertaking clinical work’, the government has announced.
Following the release of the preliminary findings of the audit, the government said on Friday that the notes of all patients seen by these two doctors – including both rheumatology and non-rheumatology patients – would now also be reviewed.
This week it was revealed that over half of the 341 rheumatology patients prescribed powerful drugs which suppress the immune system and can make individuals more susceptible to infections did not meet the accepted criteria for the treatment.
The audit also suggested that the findings may be symptomatic of other ‘serious’ problems in Health.
Christopher Bown, interim chief officer for Health and Community Services, said: ‘In the interests of openness and transparency we can confirm that the review involves the practice and record keeping of just two doctors in the period before January 2022. Neither of the doctors were locums, and they are no longer undertaking clinical work with HCS.
‘We will now be reviewing the notes of all the rheumatology patients seen by these doctors, and since they also treated a number of non-rheumatology patients we will be reviewing the notes of these patients too.’
When asked by the JEP if either of the two doctors were still employed or being paid by the Health Department, the government said that it was unable to comment on individual HR matters. It has also not been revealed whether any disciplinary action is under way.
