Southern Trust: Urology review sees 350 patients' care changed

Patients treated by Aidan O'Brien who have not yet had their care reviewed will be contacted directly

More than 350 patients in Northern Ireland required a change to their care following a review into the clinical practice of retired consultant urologist Aidan O'Brien.

The Urology Lookback Review was initiated by the Southern trust.

Patients treated by Mr O'Brien for urology cancer or renal stone disease, who have not had their care reviewed, will also be contacted directly.

The Department of Health said it is committed to improving patient safety.

The department said it will learn from the circumstances that led to the Lookback Review.

This first outcomes report of the review showed that 2,112 patients have had their records examined.

A total of 527 of these patients were identified as requiring an appointment with a Southern Trust urology consultant.

Two-thirds of patients reviewed (352) required a change in their care and treatment.

The remaining 175 patients did not have any change.

Responding to this review through the Medical Protection Society, Aidan O'Brien said: "Changes to management plans, such as those exemplified in the report, are commonly recommended or required when patients are reviewed or when their elective admissions for procedures are considered, for several reasons including changes in their circumstances, changes in their general health or in the condition being managed.

"Such changes have been all the more commonly required when patients have waited years for review and years for elective admission."

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'Upset, distress and anxiety'

The Southern Trust said any private patients of Mr O' Brien who may be concerned about their urology care and treatment and would like to be included in the review should contact them.

Welcoming the publication of this report, the Department of Health acknowledged again "the upset, distress and anxiety these matters have caused to the patients and families affected".

The Department of Health established the Independent Public Inquiry into Urology Services in the Southern HSC Trust.

It is chaired by Christine Smith KC and will recommence hearing from witnesses in September.

Mr O'Brien said that he had not been "consulted or invited to provide any input" into the Lookback Review and questioned some of its findings.

"I remain fully engaged with the ongoing independent public inquiry, which is looking more broadly at urology services which have been provided by the Trust," he added,