Colleagues' concerns led to curbs on consultant

A locum consultant orthopaedic surgeon in the northeast has had his practice restricted by the health authorities following concerns raised by medical colleagues.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) in a statement yesterday said it had sought an external review of the practice of the locum consultant.

The consultant, who the HSE did not identify, is attached to the Louth/Meath hospital group.

Orthopaedic services in the northeast are divided between Our Lady's of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and Our Lady's Hospital in Navan.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeons in the northeast have appointments to both centres.

The HSE said the external report on the practice of the locum orthopaedic surgeon had been completed and was due to be received imminently. It said restrictions had been placed on the practice of the surgeon in May 2004 pending the outcome of the review.

Informed sources told The Irish Times last night that the consultant had been in a long-term locum post in the northeast for several years.

It is understood concerns were raised by medical colleagues in 2004 about the way he carried out his practice. These concerns were referred to management at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and to the former North Eastern Health Board.

It is understood that the consultant is currently not carrying out surgical operations at the hospital, although he is providing other medical services.

The review of the practice of the consultant is being carried out by an association of orthopaedic surgeons in the UK.

Informed sources said the delay in having the practice of the consultant reviewed was due to difficulties on the part of health authorities in the northeast in securing the services of an expert group to carry out the analysis.

In its statement last night the HSE said it had an obligation to provide safe systems of healthcare and related services for patients and clients to the highest possible quality. It was also responsible for providing a safe working environment for staff.

"As part of this process, the HSE sought an external review of the practice of a locum consultant orthopaedic surgeon in the northeast. The review is now complete and the report is imminent. The doctor who has been employed as a locum orthopaedic consultant has had his practice restricted since May 2004 pending the outcome of the review."

Details of the new investigation into the practices of a consultant at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital come just weeks after the publication of a highly critical report into activities at its obstetrics unit. The report of Judge Maureen Harding Clarke found that an abnormally high number of emergency hysterectomies were carried out in the unit between 1974 and 1998. The majority of these were carried out by obstetrician Dr Michael Neary.

Last month the HSE announced that restrictions had been placed on the types of surgery that could be carried out at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan.

The move, which will involve the transfer of patients in need of complex surgery to larger hospitals mainly in Dublin, followed a review of 20 operations carried out at the hospital.