66 Blood Patch Patient Review

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland) should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

lyndsay eccleston

Dear Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland),

In a plenary meeting on 20 April 2021, the Health Minister advised that there was a 66 blood patch patient review of patients who were not a part of Cohorts 1 + 2. Patients once again had to hear about this review on the TV, despite multiple requests that the Neurology Recall Support Group be informed. Patients included in this review later received letters, at an advanced stage.

(1) It now transpires that there were patients who were a part of cohorts 1 + 2 included in this review. Can you, therefore, confirm why these 66 were selected?
(2) How many of the 66 patients are deceased?
(3) How does this review differ from the 2016/2017 internal review of 200 blood patch patients?
(4) How many had blood patches were performed by a neurologist other than Dr. Michael Watt?
(5) Why would you exclude the remaining blood patch patients?
(6) Why did the Belfast Trust head this investigation, given the obvious conflict of interest, and what steps did you take to make sure that this was independent? Did you exclude consultants who were a party to the initial blood patch concerns and investigations?
(7) Why were patients included in this review, excluded from giving their accounts of what happened? This is particularly important as you have already acknowledged concerns with note-taking and record-keeping of blood patch patients.

Yours faithfully,

Lyndsay Eccleston

PublicLiaison-SM, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

Thank you for your email to Belfast Trust Public Liaison Service. Due to
the significant impact of the Coronavirus situation, Trust staff are
working to prioritise their duties as front line health and social care
workers and regrettably there may be a delay in responding to your email
at this time. Please note however, that any urgent queries will be
forwarded to the relevant service for their attention. Thank you for your
understanding and patience at this difficult time.

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Turner, Clark, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

6 Attachments

Dear Ms Eccleston

 

Please  find attached acknowledgement of your FOI enquiry

 

Best wishes

 

Clark

 

 

Clark Turner (he/him)

Communications Officer

Public Liaison Service

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

E: [1][email address]

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Turner, Clark, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

6 Attachments

Dear Ms Eccleston

 

Please find attached a response to your FOI enquiry

 

Many thanks

 

Clark

 

 

Clark Turner (he/him)

Communications Officer

Public Liaison Service

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

E: [1][email address]

T: 028 9504 4919

M: 07803 438155

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lyndsay eccleston

Dear Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland),

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)'s handling of my FOI request '66 Blood Patch Patient Review'.

(1) It now transpires that there were patients who were a part of cohorts
1 + 2 included in this review. Can you, therefore, confirm why these
66 were selected?

RESPONSE: The information which was collated for the structured judgment
review of 66 patients was conducted at a point in time. The review identified 66
patients who had one or more blood patches but had not attended the neurology
recall.

QUERY: Can you advise why some patients who were included in this review were also a part of cohorts one and two? Were these patients all patients of Dr Watt? What date ranges are these procedures for?

(3) How does this review differ from the 2016/2017 internal review of 200
blood patch patients?

RESPONSE: The recent review of the 66 patients which was undertaken using a
structured judgement review template. This particular template was not available
to use in 2017.

QUERY: Can you please provide a copy of this structured judgment review template? Other than it wasn't available in 2017, can you please outline the differences between this template and the 2017 blood patch review?

(7) Why were patients included in this review, excluded from giving their
accounts of what happened? This is particularly important as you
have already acknowledged concerns with note-taking and record-
keeping of blood patch patients.

RESPONSE: All patients who attended the neurology recall had the opportunity
to discuss their care and treatment as a former patient of Dr Watt. The Belfast
Trust is not aware of any patient who has been excluded from giving an account
of their experience. This was evident by the number of calls to the Neurology
Advice Line. Many other patients have chosen other ways of sharing their
experience. Any patient who wishes to discuss their care should make contact
with the Neurology Advice Line and ask to speak to Mrs Clare Lundy,
Neurosciences Service Manager. The Neurology Advice Line number is 0800
980 1100. This advice line is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, excluding weekends.

QUERY: You have advised this review was for patients who did not attend a recall appointment. Patients have yet to be asked for their experience of the patches which would be important for any investigation. Can you clarify why the decision to exclude patient participation was made?

I have also raised concerns that recall consultants refused to discuss blood patches with patients. This has been reported multiple times in writing and during multiple in-depth calls to the neurology helpline with assurances of call-backs which unfortunately did not happen. These concerns were also raised during a zoom call with the Belfast Trust, Trust Board, and Department of Health. I'm concerned from your response that these issues have not been recorded, but more importantly, addressed. Please can you check this?

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/6...

Yours faithfully,

Lyndsay Eccleston

Dear Turner, Clark,

Please can we have a response.

Yours sincerely,

Lyndsay Eccleston

Hanna, Arlene, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

Dear Lyndsay

We are currently reviewing our response to your FOI request. We aim to respond within 20 working days and in this case by 14 September 2021.

Many thanks
Arlene

Arlene Hanna
Communications & FOI Manager
Public Liaison Service, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, Tel: 028 9504 6802, [mobile number]

Belfasttrust.hscni.net |     Facebook.com/BelfastTrust |     Twitter.com/BelfastTrust |     Instagram.com/BelfastTrust |     YouTube.com/BelfastTrust

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Dear Hanna, Arlene,

This is now overdue. Please can you provide a full response?

Yours sincerely,

Lyndsay Eccleston

Hanna, Arlene, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

Thank you for your email, I will be back on 20 September 2021. If you need
to speak to a member of the Public Liaison Team please telephone 028 9504
5888 or email [Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland) request email]
Many thanks
Arlene

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Dear Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland),

Please can you clearly outline the reason for delay? Repeatedly, FOI's submitted by this group, are delayed or not appropriately answered. Is there a reason for this?

Yours sincerely,

Lyndsay Eccleston

PublicLiaison-SM, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

Thank you for your email to Belfast Trust Public Liaison Service. Due to
the significant impact of the Coronavirus situation, Trust staff are
working to prioritise their duties as front line health and social care
workers and regrettably there may be a delay in responding to your email
at this time. Please note however, that any urgent queries will be
forwarded to the relevant service for their attention. Thank you for your
understanding and patience at this difficult time.

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Hanna, Arlene, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

2 Attachments

Dear Lyndsay

Please see attached.

Kind regards
Arlene

Public Liaison Service, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, Tel: 028 9504 6802

Belfasttrust.hscni.net |     Facebook.com/BelfastTrust |     Twitter.com/BelfastTrust |     Instagram.com/BelfastTrust |     YouTube.com/BelfastTrust

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