HUNDREDS of patients implanted with a lifesaving device at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital were not told about their potentially devastating side-effects.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) are designed to detect a dangerously abnormal heartbeat, or arrhythmia.

They work by giving the heart an electric shock to jolt it back into normal rhythm, and since their introduction in the 1980s, have been credited with saving thousands of lives.

But if this happens while people are conscious, they can lead to devastating psychological consequences, including nervous breakdowns.

Last night, the JR admitted before last year it was not properly informing patients of the side-effects, meaning almost 850 people fitted with ICDs between 2005 and 2010 may not know of the risks.

To date, no effort has been made by the trust to contact the patients and inform them.

But advice has been updated on the trust’s website and other patient literature.

Now the family of a man who suffered a nervous breakdown after being fitted with an ICD have called for more to be done.

Roger Birchall, of Plantation Road, Oxford, was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia (VT), an abnormally fast heart rhythm, last year, and was implanted with an ICD at the JR last July.

But the 79-year-old former teacher, described by his family as a pillar of strength, suffered a mental collapse after receiving 11 shocks from his ICD in half an hour, all while still awake.

The shocks are normally only necessary while patients are sleeping or unconscious but can sometimes occur while they are awake.

His son Hamish Birchall, 54, said: “It was incredibly sad to see such a strong man suffering. He became a very fearful man. He couldn’t sleep, he suffered nightmares and panic attacks.

“The fear of a repeat event led to my father suffering acute anxiety and a mental collapse.”

His widow Ann, 85, added: “We were given very little information about the ICD, and there wasn’t anything on the patient consent form about the mental disturbances it could cause.”

Doctors eventually had to turn Mr Birchall’s ICD off with a magnet, and he died in hospital a month later, following a cardiac arrest.

Mr Birchall’s family asked for an independent review into their father’s death.

The Oxford University Hospital Trust, which runs the JR, has since changed its consent process.

Medical director Prof Edward Baker said: “Our work with Mr Birchall’s family has been very valuable and has helped us improve the information we provide to patients receiving ICDs.

“ICDs are a lifesaving treatment, but we understand that the shocks can be upsetting for patients.

“We have reviewed our consent process to ensure patients are fully aware of the potential for this happening and that they are informed about the possibility of psychological stress as a result of the shocks administered by the implanted device.

“We have also updated our website and patient literature to raise awareness of the issue and are working closely with the Arrhythmia Alliance to ensure its website clearly highlights this.”

A trust spokesman said all patients underwent an anxiety and depression scoring system before and after the implant, and patients were frequently seen for follow-ups as well as having a 24-hour telephone helpline and email service.

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk