Core Participant Proposal Submitted to Dr. Watt Public Inquiry on Behalf of 15 Former Patients

In December 2020, the non-statutory independent neurology inquiry was upgraded to a full statutory public inquiry. The terms of reference for the public inquiry are as follows:

• review of the governance of outpatient services in the Belfast HSC Trust, with a particular focus on neurology services. This review will then be extended to cover all four remaining HSC Trusts over the subsequent 12-18 months;
• An expert review of the records of all patients or former patients of Dr Michael Watt, who have died over the past ten years;
•  A review of the corporate and clinical governance of health services delivered in the independent sector in Northern Ireland.

We represent 15 former patients of Dr. Michael Watt and are currently engaged in ongoing medical negligence claims against the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

We have written to the Independent Neurology Inquiry requesting that our clients be granted ‘core participant’ status in the inquiry. Our client’s have been significantly affected by the systemic failings of the neurological services in this jurisdiction and we believe they should be involved in this process as much as possible.

Conal McGarrity and Enda McGarrity act for the former patients of Dr. Watt.