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Epilepsy patient review at Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford - Update
Staff at a Surrey hospital have reassured parents and families that they are doing everything possible to bring about a quick conclusion to a review involving 569 children with epilepsy.
Dr Nic Driver, consultant paediatrician at Royal Surrey County Hospital, has been suspended following concerns raised by a medical professional from St. George’s Hospital in Tooting. Dr Driver has a specialist interest in epilepsy and neurology.
Medical director at the Surrey hospital, Dr Christopher Tibbs, said the review into Dr Driver’s diagnosis and treatment of children with epilepsy would be a slow and painstaking process and that it was of paramount importance to conduct it properly and thoroughly in order to get the right answers for parents. However he hoped to be able to report back to parents with progress by the end of August.
He said the suspension of Dr Driver was precautionary and should not be seen as a judgement of him. It did not mean that he was guilty, he stressed.
‘Dr Driver is a diligent, hard working doctor who is very well respected in the area,’ he said. ‘He is very committed to his patients, and we are doing everything we can to support him and to support parents and families affected by the review.
‘We understand that this is a very worrying and upsetting time for all families concerned and are very sorry to put them in a position that will cause stress and anxiety.’
Concerns were raised in February this year over whether Dr Driver was following national guidelines issued in 2004 by NICE about ways in which epilepsy is diagnosed and treated. Dr Driver was suspended from working with children with epilepsy immediately and, following an initial inquiry, was suspended from all duties at the hospital.
Dr Tibbs said that at this stage of the review it would be impossible to give details of concerns that had been raised by an epilepsy consultant from St George’s but that every single child’s case notes would be examined thoroughly by independent experts.
‘In each case the review will establish whether the diagnosis and subsequent treatment is correct,’ he continued. ‘Epilepsy is very complicated and diagnosis involves many tests with very difficult interpretation. It is hard to be completely precise about diagnosis.
‘What I can confirm is that this review is not about malicious behaviour or abuse. Dr Driver has not been involved in harming children. We can assure parents we do not think any child has died as a result of Dr Driver[’s actions].’
The case notes review has been launched on the recommendation of independent experts in paediatric neurology, the British Paediatrics Neurology Association and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. The review is being managed by Dr Tibbs with support from Professor Helen Cross who is an independent expert on childhood epilepsy, and Professor Chris Verity, a retired paediatric neurologist.
Parents of all patients concerned have been written to and the hospital has set up a dedicated helpline to respond and deal with any concerns or queries they may have. Parents of Dr Driver’s other 900 patients who do not have epilepsy have also been contacted to assure them the review does not affect them.
As each child’s case notes are reviewed, a team of experts will decide whether there are any causes for concern. If there are, the patient will be referred to a specialist tertiary paediatric centre. If there is no reason for concern, they will be offered a routine follow-up appointment.
All patients have currently been transferred to another paediatrician at the hospital with an interest in neurodisabilities.
‘What we must emphasise’ continued Dr Tibbs, ‘is that it is extremely important that patients do not stop or alter their current dose of medication without consultation with a paediatric consultant with a specialist interest in neurological disorders.’
The dedicated helpline is open from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and also on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 July. You can call a member of the support line team on 01483 408 379 or email: rsc-tr.children@nhs.net
If you have concerns raised by this story, you are also welcome to call Epilepsy Society’s confidential helpline on 01494 601 400 from 10am-4pm Monday to Friday (national call rate).
