Still waiting for answers: The human cost of misreported cardiac scans at Derby Hospital
“I could have died, and I wouldn’t have known why.”
Imagine being told years later that a scan meant to protect your heart may have missed something life-threatening.
In recent weeks, the scale of the issue has come into sharper focus. An internal review by University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust revealed that over 1,200 cardiac MRI scans—conducted between 2013 and 2020—had to be re-examined. Of those, 465 were flagged for further review. Shockingly, 102 were found to contain significant reporting errors, and two patients were identified as having life-threatening conditions that were missed entirely. Read more here.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
Behind every statistic is a life
According to the internal review, 176 patients who underwent these scans have since died. Of those, 101 had scans that were later found to be misreported. For many families, this revelation has reopened old wounds and raised painful questions: Could their loved ones still be alive today? Were opportunities to intervene missed?
Some patients only learned of the issue after it was reported in the media.
Our client had been living their life unaware that a potentially serious heart condition had gone undetected.
Cardiac MRIs are not routine tests. They are typically ordered when there is a concern about the structure or function of the heart, essentially when something might be seriously wrong. Patients undergoing these scans trust that the results will be accurate, and that any issues will be flagged and acted upon.
You don’t have to wait for the Trust to contact you
At Freeths, we are already supporting an individual and families affected by the misreporting. We understand the confusion, the anger, and the grief that many are feeling.
You do not need to wait to be contacted by the Trust to seek help.
Whether you’ve already received a letter or are still waiting for answers, you have the right to independent legal advice.
We are here to help you understand what happened, what your options are, and how you can begin to move forward.
What you can do now
If you or a loved one had a cardiac MRI at Royal Derby Hospital between 2013 and 2020, and you have concerns about the care you received, we encourage you to get in touch. Even if you’ve already been contacted by the Trust, it’s important to know that you are not alone—and you are not powerless.
Get in touch
The content of this page is a summary of the law in force at the date of publication and is not exhaustive, nor does it contain definitive advice. Specialist legal advice should be sought in relation to any queries that may arise.
Related expertise
Law Firm of the Year
We are proud to have been named Law Firm of the Year at the prestigious Legal Business Awards 2024!
Legal Business is the market-leading monthly magazine for the UK and global legal market. Its readership spans the UK, Europe, Asia and the US, and the awards celebrate the very best in the legal profession.
This win is absolute recognition for all the hard work across the firm over the past year.
Contact us today
Whatever your legal needs, our wide ranging expertise is here to support you and your business, so let’s start your legal journey today and get you in touch with the right lawyer to get you started.
Get in touch
For general enquiries, please complete this form and we will direct your message to the most appropriate person.