Great Ormond Street Hospital have responded to recent (April 2018) media coverage about the patient safety concerns that have been raised about their Gastroenterology department. Following that response an hour long documentary, called Great Ormond Street: The Child First and Always?, aired on ITV on Wednesday 18 April 2018 at 10.40pm. This programme followed the result of a year-long investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

The investigation as reported in the media focussed on the diagnosis, and treatment, of a set of rare conditions together known as Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease (EGID) in a number of children over many years, at the hospital. Questions were raised about the correctness of the initial diagnosis (eg were bowel biopsies reported correctly), the nature and extend of the treatment (correct use of steroids, and proper use of immunosuppressant drugs including azothiaprine, methotrexate, mercaptopurine and monoclonal antibodies (including infliximab (Remicade)). For some children their health is reported to have improved only after they sought a second opinion and were then weaned off the therapy implemented by Great Ormond Street Hospital.

If you are a Gastroenterology patient, or their parent or carer, of Great Ormond Street Hospital and you have specific concerns about the care received in that department then you can contact the hospital by calling 0207 762 6041 (Monday to Friday 9am -5pm). Contacting them may help to allay any fears about that diagnosis and treatment.

However, if you remain concerned that your health, or that of a loved one, may have been adversely affected, over an extended period of time, by inappropriate diagnosis or treatment then you may wish to look at alternate routes to resolving your concerns.

Our clinical negligence solicitors have already been contacted by a family affected by the problems in the Gastroenterology department, and will continue to follow the story. If you or your family have any concerns over medical treatment received, you can speak to one of our team on 020 7833 4433 or use the contact form here.