Belfast Health Trust Recalls 163 Heart Patients Over Unnecessary CRT Device Implants
The Belfast Health Trust has begun contacting 163 patients who received Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT) devices, a specialised form of pacemaker, between 2007 and 2023. A review, instigated by a patient complaint in 2023, indicated that a number of these implants may have been medically unwarranted.
Dr Ernest Lau's Cases Under Scrutiny
The affected patients were under the care of cardiologist Dr Ernest Lau, who remains employed by the Trust but has not seen patients for the past three years while the investigation proceeded. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) conducted an independent review of Lau's cases, agreeing with initial concerns regarding his decision-making.
While colleagues reportedly raised issues about Dr Lau's practice in 2020, formal action was delayed until the patient complaint surfaced three years later. The Trust maintains that the CRT devices themselves are safe, advising patients not to take immediate action.
Review Process and Patient Notification
Out of 684 patients identified as having received a CRT device during the specified period, the RCP's criteria flagged 163 for further review. The Trust has begun notifying these individuals, offering consultations with a specialist consultant cardiologist to discuss the findings. Initial smaller groups of patients have already been contacted, with more notifications expected in the coming weeks.
Reports suggest distress among patients receiving these letters and frustration among some medical professionals regarding the protracted timeline of the Trust's review process. The Trust has established an advice line for affected individuals.
