Royal Derby Hospital cardiac MRI review: What patients need to know

Some people who could be affected have not been contacted yet. If you had a cardiac MRI at Royal Derby Hospital between 2013 and 2020, it is worth finding out whether this review could affect you. 

Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust is reviewing scans reported by a former radiology consultant during this period. The Trust has already contacted some patients. It is still working through the review, so others may not have heard anything yet. 

If you are worried about your care, specialist legal advice can help you understand what has happened and what you can do next. 

Everyone deserves to trust the care they receive. When a scan is not reported correctly, it can take longer to find the right diagnosis. That delay can affect the care someone receives. 

The Trust began the review after colleagues raised concerns about patient safety and the quality of reporting in the cardiac imaging service. An early audit found reporting differences in around 37% of the scans it checked. A normal rate is around 5%. The Trust is now carrying out a wider review to see whether other patients were affected. 

The review will look at whether any mistakes changed the care patients received. It will also examine patient records to understand whether anyone came to harm because important findings were missed. 

It can be difficult not knowing whether your care has been affected. You may still have questions, even if the Trust has not contacted you. You may want to seek advice if:

• You had a cardiac MRI between 2013 and 2020.
• You’ve recently learned your scan is being reviewed.
• You believe your diagnosis was delayed.
• Your heart condition became worse before it was diagnosed.
• A family member died after concerns about a missed diagnosis.

Cardiac MRI scans help doctors understand how well the heart is working. They can show signs of heart disease and help doctors decide on the right treatment. If a scan is reported incorrectly, a patient could be left waiting for the care they need. In some cases, that delay can make their condition worse.

Sonya Friend, a senior associate in our medical negligence team shared: “We understand how worrying this review will be for many people. Some patients still do not know whether they have been affected. Our team is here to answer questions, explain your options and help you understand what to do next.”

If you think this review may affect you or someone you love, you do not have to face it on your own. Our specialist medical negligence team is investigating potential claims linked to the Royal Derby Hospital cardiac MRI review. We have helped many people after delays in diagnosis and mistakes in medical care. We will listen to your concerns and explain whether we think you may have a claim. If we can help, we will guide you through the process and keep you updated on your options at every stage. 

Find out more about our medical negligence services, contact our team for a free, no-obligation discussion, or visit our group actions page to follow the latest developments.