58 patients impacted by care failings at Yorkshire hospital

An external review of the Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) procedure delivered at Rotherham Hospital has found that 58 cases were subject to failings.

The Royal College of Physicians report found that all of the incidents could be traced back to one nurse consultant at the hospital, and that it was “isolated practice”. The investigation found that they did not make clear their role as a nurse consultant and implied they were medically trained, and also were resistant to critical feedback and challenge.

The nurse consultant was suspended in July 2021, and since then patients from Rotherham needing an ERCP – a procedure which involves putting a tube with a camera to look at bile and pancreatic ducts - have been sent to hospitals in Sheffield.

Two independent experts were then called in, as recommended by the RCP, to review the care of 68 patients who had died or suffered a complication within 30 days of the procedure. They found a "similar pattern of care failures", including poor documentation, excessive levels of sedation and a “lack of responsiveness” to deteriorating patients.

Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that the care of 58 patients was found to have failures, with 25 having suffered some degree of harm.

Law firm Slater and Gordon supports people across the country who have suffered harm as a result of medical negligence.

Jodie Cook, senior associate at Slater and Gordon, who is based in Sheffield, says: “This is a shocking case of failings on multiple occasions, including six fatalities, in utterly avoidable circumstances. The practice of one individual has ruined lives and has caused huge trauma for many families who relied on Rotherham Hospital to carry out this procedure with the care, attention and professionalism they deserve.

“We would urge Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust to ensure they learn lessons from this dreadful episode, and ensure they have robust procedures in place to properly manage and challenge the conduct of those delivering such treatment. Patients deserve the very highest standards of care, and this hospital has fallen very short here.”