Legal action sought against rheumatology service

A report said a number of patients had been misdiagnosed

A "significant number" of people want to take action against Jersey's rheumatology department, lawyers have said.

Law firm Viberts added it has been "formally instructed" by a number of clients to act on their behalf.

An independent report said the department misdiagnosed patients, while staff relied on pharmaceutical companies for training which was likely to be "heavily biased".

The Government of Jersey has been approached for comment.

Viberts said it was seeing "common themes" from claimants and it has requested medical records for people who want to take legal action.

The firm added it had met with deputy medical director Simon West and members of the Health and Community Services (HCS) legal team and are due to hold another meeting next month.

'Damning' review

A report from the Royal College of Physicians, published earlier this year, said there had been evidence of cases with "no evidence of clinical examination" and incorrect diagnoses "on occasions".

The review added it was concerned some specialist staff were "self-taught" and the training of some nurses was "being provided by the pharmaceutical industry".

The report, described as "damning" by Viberts, was commissioned following concerns raised in January 2022 by a junior doctor.

At the time of the review's publication in January, HCS leaders said patients on the island "deserve better".