Dr Veronica Varney: Three dead after rogue doctor gave patients wrong medical advice and to avoid Covid-19 jab
An investigation found three people died and others suffered permanent damage while under the care of a consultant who gave outdated and inaccurate medical advice.
While working at St Helier Hospital in south London, Dr Veronica Varney told her patients with lung conditions to avoid flu jabs and rapeseed oil.
He was released by St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (Gesh) in 2023 and referred to the General Medical Council.
The following year the trust commissioned a review of Dr Varney’s treatment of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), a term that refers to more than 200 conditions that cause progressive inflammation and scarring of lung tissue.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) investigation examined 28 cases between 2019 and 2022.
Treating ILD requires an individualized plan by a multidisciplinary team; the review found that Dr Varney disagreed.
The report said he “often” recommended off-label treatments and gave non-evidence-based advice, such as telling patients not to get vaccinated against flu or Covid-19 and to avoid rapeseed oil.
According to the investigation, three people died because they did not have access to treatments that could extend their lives.
In one case, a patient’s immunosuppressive treatment was delayed by two years, and although her health condition had deteriorated, appropriate treatment was not started until complications developed.
One patient was told that his symptoms were due to poor fitness and was given dietary advice rather than treatment.
Another patient was not referred to a specialist ILD multidisciplinary team meeting for a year, which led to “missed opportunities for early intervention”, the report said.
The review found that a further 12 people suffered permanent or long-term harm, while seven cases were not given treatments that could have improved their quality of life or required further procedures.
Group chief medical officer at Gesh, Dr. Richard Jennings said: “I offer my sincere apologies to our patients and their families for the harm this has caused – the care they received fell far short of what should have been provided.
“While the Royal College of Physicians’ report makes clear that patients have suffered significant harm, it also expresses confidence in the changes we have already made to make the service safe and we have accepted and acted on all their recommendations.
“We have contacted patients or their families to share the findings, apologize and offer further support.”
Gesh will review the care given to all ILD patients treated by Dr Varney from 2019.
This is expected to last between 12 months and 2 years.
Dr Varney remains under investigation by the General Medical Council and restrictions are being placed on his practice while this process continues.
