Former respiratory consultant Dr. Veronica Varney contributed to serious harm, including three premature deaths, while treating patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) at St Helier Hospital in south London, according to an independent Royal College of Physicians (RCP) review published on Thursday.

The investigation found that delayed treatment, missed referrals to specialist multidisciplinary teams, and departures from national guidance contributed to irreversible lung damage, reduced quality of life, and premature deaths among patients treated between 2019 and 2022. Dr. Varney left the trust in 2023, was referred to the General Medical Council (GMC) in September 2024, and remains under investigation with restrictions on her medical practice.

The independent review examined 28 randomly selected cases involving patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) treated between 2019 and 2022. It found that 12 patients suffered severe or permanent harm, three died after missing access to treatments that may have prolonged their lives, and seven experienced moderate harm.

The review identified repeated delays in diagnosis, missed referrals to specialist multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, inaccurate interpretation of lung function tests, and failure to consistently recommend approved antifibrotic medicines that can slow disease progression. Investigators also found that some patients were advised to avoid influenza and COVID-19 vaccination and rapeseed oil despite a lack of supporting clinical evidence.

The review also described cases where patients did not receive timely specialist care. In one instance, a patient was not referred to an ILD multidisciplinary team for a year, which investigators said resulted in "missed opportunities for earlier intervention."

The report concluded that "delays to or deviations from guideline-based care potentially contributed to patients' irreversible lung damage, poor quality of life or premature death."

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a group of more than 200 disorders that cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs, making breathing progressively more difficult. One of its most severe forms, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), often progresses despite treatment, making early diagnosis and evidence-based management especially important.

The findings highlight why timely specialist care is essential. It found that several patients treated at St Helier Hospital were not referred for multidisciplinary team (MDT) assessment or offered approved antifibrotic medicines that can slow disease progression.

The review also identified missed referrals for oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and palliative care, services that can help improve symptoms, maintain quality of life, and support patients with advanced disease.

Following the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) report, Dr. Richard Jennings, Group Chief Medical Officer at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, apologized to affected patients and families, saying the care they received "fell far below what should have been given." He added that the trust had accepted all 19 recommendations and had already implemented most of the recommended changes.

The trust has contacted affected patients and their families to apologize and offer support. It has also begun reviewing the care of 203 patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) treated by the former consultant between 2019 and 2023, with the review expected to take 12 months to two years. The report has also been shared with the General Medical Council (GMC), NHS England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and the coroners for London South and Surrey.

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The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) review found that departures from established clinical guidance, delayed referrals to specialist multidisciplinary teams, and weaknesses in local oversight contributed to irreversible lung damage, poorer quality of life and premature death. It also identified organizational issues, including "poor escalation pathways" and "a historical lack of integration between the St Helier and Epsom sites," which the report said created "a challenging environment for staff to raise and respond to concerns."

Dr. Varney remains under investigation by the General Medical Council (GMC), with restrictions on her practice. The NHS Trust said it has implemented major service improvements, while the RCP concluded that "the current respiratory team is well-positioned to drive meaningful improvements," following changes to leadership, governance, and clinical processes.

References:

1. Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. 2025. “Statement on Royal College of Physicians Report on Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD).” Accessed July 10, 2026. https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/news-and-events/statement-on-royal-college-of-physicians-report-on-interstitial-lung-disease-ild-9116.

2. Royal College of Physicians. 2025. Independent Report on Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. Accessed July 10, 2026. https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/royal-college-of-physiciansindependent-report-oninterstitial-lung-disease-ild.

(Rh/TP/MSM)