University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust has appointed
the independent, external panel that will review its histopathology
services following allegations of misdiagnosis.
Chair of the review group is Jane Mishcon, Counsel at Hailsham
Chambers, London, a barrister with 30 years experience across a
wide range of cases involving most clinical specialities. She
has chaired nine independent inquiries and her main area of
practice is clinical negligence. Jane is ranked as a leading
barrister in both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK.
The other members appointed to the review group are: Sir James
Underwood, former Professor of Pathology at the University of
Sheffield Medical School; Ken Jarrold CBE, senior consultant at
Dearden Consulting and former chief executive of County Durham and
Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority. Dr Margaret Spittle
OBE MSc FRCP FRCR AKC, consultant clinical oncologist and emeritus
at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and
Guys & St Thomas Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust replaced Dr
Fergus Macbeth, consultant oncologist and Director of the Centre
for Clinical Practice at the National Institute for Health and
Clinical Excellence on the panel in January 2010, following Dr
Macbeth's decision to stand down due to other work commitments.
Following consultation with the Patients Association, Michael
Summers, vice chairman of the Patients Association has been
appointed as patient representative.
The review group will investigate concerns raised about possible
misdiagnosis of histopathology specimens. It will establish what
actions were taken by the Trust to address these concerns and
decide if those actions were appropriate, timely and
sufficient.
It will also consider the results of an external audit of
histopathology specimens. As announced on 19 June 2009, The
Trust has taken advice from the Royal College of Pathologists and
statistical experts to establish the methodology for an independent
audit to establish if there is a significant error rate in its
histopathology services.
An external organisation is now auditing a random sample of
3,500 histopathology cases across all specialties from 2007 and is
also re-examining 26 individual cases raised as specific concerns.
Each sample will be checked by independent specialist pathologists
from outside the South West of England. The results of this
audit, due later this autumn, will be reviewed by the Royal College
of Pathologists.
The review group will make recommendations on any actions
necessary to ensure the Trust provides safe and effective pathology
services for patients.
John Savage, Chairman of University Hospitals Bristol NHS
Foundation Trust, says:
Jane Mishcon and the other members of this review panel have the
right skills and experience to undertake a thorough, independent
review of our histopathology services and our response to concerns
about possible misdiagnosis over a number of years.
We have taken these allegations seriously and thats why we have
commissioned this entirely independent, external review. We
hope this review will provide patients and the public with
reassurance that they can have full confidence in our services.
The Trust has informed the Care Quality Commission and Monitor,
the independent regulator for Foundation Trusts, of the actions
that it is taking.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. To inquire into the performance of the histopathology
services across the Trust.
2. To inquire into any concerns raised with respect to
possible allegations of misinterpretation and/or misdiagnosis of
histopathology specimens since 2004.
3. To establish what action was taken by the Trust to
address any concerns raised about the performance of histopathology
services and to draw conclusions as to whether such response was
appropriate, timely and sufficient.
4. To consider the results of the independent review of
histopathological specimens and to draw conclusions from those
results.
5. To make recommendations on any action necessary to
ensure provision of safe and effective histopathology services for
patients.
Updated 25/01/10
Histopathology review -
questions and answers
