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 (ILD). 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 (MDT), 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 investigation concluded that failures in diagnosis, treatment and referral had, in some cases, likely caused or contributed to serious harm. Ninety-one patients included in the review have since died. Dr Varney left the Trust in 2023. She was formally referred to the GMC in September 2024, and interim restrictions have been placed on her practice, limiting her clinical work to non-acute settings. An external review led by the Royal College of Physicians is continuing to examine the full extent of harm caused. The Royal College of Physicians’ Invited Review also identified broader concerns about the Trust’s processes: in particular, the need to improve early detection of safety issues and to create an environment where staff feel safe raising concerns.

What is interstitial lung disease?

Interstitial lung disease is an umbrella term covering a range of progressive conditions that cause scarring (fibrosis) and inflammation in the lung tissue. Over time, this scarring makes it harder for the lungs to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. ILD encompasses conditions including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and connective tissue disease-associated ILD, among others. Many of these conditions are progressive, meaning they tend to worsen over time, and some can severely reduce life expectancy if not diagnosed and managed promptly with the right treatment. Effective ILD care is highly specialised. It typically involves a coordinated multidisciplinary team including respiratory consultants, radiologists, pathologists and physiotherapists working together to make an accurate diagnosis and agree on a treatment plan. Disease-modifying therapies are available for some forms of ILD, and access to these, as well as decisions about whether to pursue them, depends on a proper diagnosis and specialist review. Without that, patients and their families are denied the information and treatment they need to make informed choices about their care.

What is a group legal action, and what does it mean for my case?

A group action (sometimes called group litigation) brings together a number of people who have suffered harm arising from the same or similar circumstances and against the same defendant. In this case, that means patients and families affected by the ILD care failures at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Trust. Each person’s case remains individual. The specific harm you or your loved one suffered, and the compensation that may flow from that, are assessed on your own facts. The group structure means claims can be coordinated efficiently, costs are shared, and the collective weight of similar cases can be significant in negotiations. You do not stand alone in this action to get to the truth, and Renu is experienced in these types of claims.

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 have reached a conclusion about whether negligence occurred before speaking to us. That is precisely what an initial conversation is for. Renu will listen to your experience and give you an honest assessment. If she does not think a claim is likely to succeed on your facts, she will tell you that clearly. Call Renu today on 01737 443268 to speak with her directly and discuss the next steps.

Can I still bring a claim for a family member who has died?

Yes. Where a patient has died as a result of, or in circumstances connected to, negligent medical care, their estate and qualifying family members may be able to bring a claim. This is known as a fatal negligence claim. The legal process in these cases has specific rules around who can claim and for what, and Renu can explain clearly how this would apply to your situation. Give Renu a call on 01737 443268.

Group Legal Action: Negligent ILD Care At Epsom And St Helier Hospitals

Group Legal Action for Negligent Interstitial Lung Disease Care at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Trust

“Be heard, understood and represented from day one.”

Following concerns first raised in 2019, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust reviewed the cases of 216 patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) treated by respiratory consultant Dr Veronica Varney at St Helier Hospital. Renu Daly from Setfords is representing patients and families affected by these failures. Renu is a senior clinical negligence solicitor who previously served as Head of Legal Services at the Trust itself.

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 found serious and widespread failures: 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.

Dr Varney left the Trust in 2023 and was formally referred to the General Medical Council (GMC) in September 2024, with interim restrictions now placed on her practice. An external review by the Royal College of Physicians is continuing to assess the full extent of harm. The review has also raised concerns about the Trust’s own processes, including the need to improve how safety issues are detected and how staff who raise concerns are supported.

01737 443268

Renu Daly
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How can we help?

If you or someone you love was treated for interstitial lung disease 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

Renu is a senior clinical negligence solicitor and a recognised specialist in complex, high-value claims with over 15 years’ experience. She has extensive experience in delayed diagnosis, failure to refer, whistleblowing, fatal claims and inquests, and she is and has previously represented patients and families who have received poor care from this specific Hospital Trust.

Renu supports individuals and families in an entirely unique way, having previously held the position of Head of Legal Services at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. In that role, she managed legal and coronial matters and advised clinicians and senior management on patient-safety incidents and clinical negligence claims. 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 is a robust and passionate advocate in respect of patient safety within all healthcare environments.

The continuing public scrutiny of Interstitial Lung Disease 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 her 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 understand 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 effectively investigate these cases, which is done on a no-win, no-fee basis, so there is no risk to the client.”

01737 443268

Group Action Claims FAQs

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 (ILD). 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 (MDT), 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 investigation concluded that failures in diagnosis, treatment and referral had, in some cases, likely caused or contributed to serious harm. Ninety-one patients included in the review have since died.
Dr Varney left the Trust in 2023. She was formally referred to the GMC in September 2024, and interim restrictions have been placed on her practice, limiting her clinical work to non-acute settings. An external review led by the Royal College of Physicians is continuing to examine the full extent of harm caused.
The Royal College of Physicians’ Invited Review also identified broader concerns about the Trust’s processes: in particular, the need to improve early detection of safety issues and to create an environment where staff feel safe raising concerns.
What is interstitial lung disease?
Interstitial lung disease is an umbrella term covering a range of progressive conditions that cause scarring (fibrosis) and inflammation in the lung tissue. Over time, this scarring makes it harder for the lungs to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream.
ILD encompasses conditions including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and connective tissue disease-associated ILD, among others. Many of these conditions are progressive, meaning they tend to worsen over time, and some can severely reduce life expectancy if not diagnosed and managed promptly with the right treatment.
Effective ILD care is highly specialised. It typically involves a coordinated multidisciplinary team including respiratory consultants, radiologists, pathologists and physiotherapists working together to make an accurate diagnosis and agree on a treatment plan. Disease-modifying therapies are available for some forms of ILD, and access to these, as well as decisions about whether to pursue them, depends on a proper diagnosis and specialist review. Without that, patients and their families are denied the information and treatment they need to make informed choices about their care.
What is a group legal action, and what does it mean for my case?
A group action (sometimes called group litigation) brings together a number of people who have suffered harm arising from the same or similar circumstances and against the same defendant. In this case, that means patients and families affected by the ILD care failures at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Trust. Each person’s case remains individual.
The specific harm you or your loved one suffered, and the compensation that may flow from that, are assessed on your own facts. The group structure means claims can be coordinated efficiently, costs are shared, and the collective weight of similar cases can be significant in negotiations. You do not stand alone in this action to get to the truth, and Renu is experienced in these types of claims.
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 have reached a conclusion about whether negligence occurred before speaking to us. That is precisely what an initial conversation is for. Renu will listen to your experience and give you an honest assessment. If she does not think a claim is likely to succeed on your facts, she will tell you that clearly.
Call Renu today on 01737 443268 to speak with her directly and discuss the next steps.
Can I still bring a claim for a family member who has died?
Yes. Where a patient has died as a result of, or in circumstances connected to, negligent medical care, their estate and qualifying family members may be able to bring a claim. This is known as a fatal negligence claim. The legal process in these cases has specific rules around who can claim and for what, and Renu can explain clearly how this would apply to your situation. Give Renu a call on 01737 443268.