Rheumatology cases 'could take years to review'

The cases of 150 patients who were treated from 2019 to date have been reviewed and a further 67 still need to be looked at

Jersey's medical director has said it could "take years" to get through rheumatology case reviews.

Patrick Armstrong told a panel of experts that 34 cases of patients who died while under the care of Jersey’s Rheumatology Department had been referred to the Viscount. In July, 20 cases had been reported as referred.

The referrals came following an independent review in January, which was highly critical of the service.

Mr Armstrong said the cases of 150 patients who were treated from 2019 to date had been reviewed and that a further 67 still needed to be looked at.

He said once those patients had been reviewed, cases pre-dating 2019 would be reviewed.