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Legal support for patients and families affected by respiratory care at St Helier Hospital
“Be heard, understood and represented from day one.”
Dr Veronica Varney, the former St Helier Hospital respiratory consultant whose care of interstitial lung disease patients was the subject of an independent Royal College of Physicians review, has now been suspended by the General Medical Council.
The development comes a month after the Royal College of Physicians published its independent review, which identified serious failings in care, including cases of moderate harm, severe harm and care failings which may have contributed to premature death.
Renu Daly from Setfords is representing more than ten families affected by care at St Helier. Renu is a senior clinical negligence solicitor who previously served as Head of Legal Services at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust itself. That means she understands both how these cases affect patients and families, and how the Trust’s internal investigation, governance and claims processes work.
She works with each client from start to finish and understands how difficult these cases can be, so you won’t be passed on to another lawyer or paralegal. She will be by your side from the beginning to the end. You can reach Renu on her direct number: 01737 443268.
The Trust’s own investigation identified serious and widespread failures in the care provided to patients with interstitial lung disease. It found that 42% of patients were never referred to the specialist ILD multidisciplinary team, 30% received no treatment at all, 20% were not adequately investigated diagnostically, and 9% received treatments unsuitable for their condition. The investigation concluded that these failures likely caused or contributed to serious harm in a number of cases.
The Trust is also carrying out further reviews into the care of other patients, meaning many families are still waiting for clear, individual answers about what happened and whether avoidable harm was caused.
Renu says:
“Dr Varney’s suspension by the GMC is a significant development, but it should not have taken this long.
“It is now more than a month since the independent review was published, and families are still waiting for clear answers about what happened to their loved ones, why concerns were not acted on sooner, and who will be held accountable.
“This delay shows exactly why families cannot simply wait for the system to police itself. When investigations and regulatory action move this slowly, patients and relatives have to keep pressing for answers.
“Having worked inside St Helier, I saw first-hand how weak internal governance can be when concerns about clinical practice are raised. Families need independent scrutiny, not just more internal process.
“The people we represent have already waited too long. They deserve to know whether poor care caused avoidable harm, why those failings were allowed to continue, and what is being done to make sure this never happens again.”
How can we help?
If you or someone you love was treated for interstitial lung disease, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis or another respiratory condition at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Trust or under the care of Dr Veronica Varney, and you believe that care fell short of the standard you should have received, you may have grounds to bring a clinical negligence claim.
Pursuing a claim will not undo what has happened. But for many people, the legal process serves purposes beyond compensation, offering answers, accountability, and driving improvements in NHS practice.
Call Renu today on 01737 443268 to speak with her directly. She is looking forward to hearing from you.
About Renu Daly, Senior Consultant Clinical Negligence Solicitor
That experience gives her detailed insight into how hospitals investigate incidents and defend claims – insight she now brings to her representation of patients and families.
Renu has extensive experience in delayed diagnosis, failure to refer, whistleblowing, fatal claims and inquests, and she has previously represented patients and families who have received poor care from this specific Hospital Trust. Renu is a robust and passionate advocate in respect of patient safety within all healthcare environments.
The continuing public scrutiny of respiratory care at St Helier Hospital includes concerns about diagnosis, specialist referral, treatment and the handling of patient-safety warnings – the very aspects of hospital procedure that Renu has hands-on experience of. Renu now focuses on investigating, supporting and protecting clients who have suffered from substandard care.
Renu says:
“Each time a client instructs me to help them, I appreciate the trust they place in me. I know the courage it takes to reach out to a solicitor, and I want to investigate what has happened so each person and family I work with understands exactly what happened. Then we focus on securing accountability and helping to ensure the same mistakes are not repeated.
“Having worked inside the NHS as well as for patients and families, I know how to investigate these cases effectively. This work can often be done on a no-win, no-fee basis.”
Group Action Claims FAQs
What has happened now?
Dr Veronica Varney has now been suspended by the General Medical Council. Her suspension follows serious public scrutiny of respiratory care provided at St Helier Hospital and the publication of the Royal College of Physicians’ independent review into the care of interstitial lung disease patients.
For affected patients and families, the GMC suspension is an important development. But it does not replace the need for clear, individual answers about what happened in each case.
What happened at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals?
Following concerns raised in 2019 and further reports from trainee doctors in 2023, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust undertook a review of patients treated by respiratory consultant Dr Veronica Varney, who was primarily based at St Helier Hospital and saw patients under a shared arrangement with St George’s University Hospitals.
- The Trust’s own investigation identified serious and widespread failures in the care provided to patients with interstitial lung disease. The findings were stark:
- In 20% of cases, patients did not receive sufficient diagnostic investigation, meaning many were living without an accurate picture of their condition
- In 42% of cases, patients were not referred to the specialist ILD multidisciplinary team, denying them access to the coordinated expert input their condition required
- In 30% of cases, patients received no treatment at all, despite having a progressive and potentially treatable condition
- In 9% of cases, patients received treatments that were unsuitable for ILD, which may have posed additional risks to their health
The Royal College of Physicians has now published its independent review, which found that patients suffered moderate and severe harm, and that in some cases failings in care may have contributed to premature death.
The Trust is carrying out further reviews into the care of other patients, but many patients and families are still waiting for clear, individual answers.
What is interstitial lung disease?
Interstitial lung disease, or ILD, is a group of lung conditions where the lung tissue becomes inflamed or scarred. This can make it harder for oxygen to pass into the blood and can cause symptoms such as breathlessness, persistent cough and worsening exercise tolerance.
Some forms of ILD are progressive and can be life-limiting. Specialist assessment, timely referral and appropriate treatment can be extremely important.
What if I was treated for another respiratory condition?
You can still get in touch. Although much of the public focus has been on interstitial lung disease, families have also raised concerns about wider respiratory care at St Helier Hospital, including other conditions such as sarcoidosis and pulmonary fibrosis.
Renu can help you understand whether your care or your loved one’s care should be investigated.
What is a group legal action, and what does it mean for my case?
A group legal action allows patients and families affected by similar issues to seek answers and accountability together, while still allowing each person’s case to be investigated on its own facts.
Every patient’s medical history, treatment and outcome will be different. Renu will review your circumstances individually and explain whether you may have a claim.
I’m not sure whether what happened to me or my family member counts as negligence. Can I still get in touch?
Yes. You do not need to know whether your care was negligent before speaking to a solicitor.
Many patients and families are still trying to understand what happened, whether treatment should have been provided sooner, whether specialist referrals were missed, or whether a loved one’s condition may have been affected by delays or poor care.
Renu can help you understand what information is needed and whether your case should be investigated further.
Can I still bring a claim for a family member who has died?
In some circumstances, yes. Family members may be able to bring a claim after the death of a loved one, depending on the facts of the case and their legal relationship to the person who died.
Renu has experience in fatal clinical negligence claims and inquests and can explain this process clearly and sensitively.
What if the Trust is already reviewing my case?
You can still seek independent legal advice. A Trust review may provide important information, but it is not the same as having independent legal representation.
A solicitor can help you understand whether the review answers the right questions, whether further medical evidence is needed, and whether poor care may have caused avoidable harm.
How much will it cost to speak to Setfords?
Initial enquiries are free. Where appropriate, Renu may be able to act on a no-win, no-fee basis. She will explain your options clearly before any work begins.
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