THE "deeply worrying" themes of a leaked report into a surgeon at the centre of a public inquiry are "consistent" with other health service scandals, a Stormont scrutiny committee chair has warned.
Colm Gildernew said the findings of the confidential probe into the work of retired consultant urologist Mr Aidan O'Brien, which were published in yesterday's Irish News, must be acted on urgently "pre inquiry".
Signed off last May, the leaked Southern health trust review revealed that concerns about Mr O'Brien's work at Craigavon Area Hospital went back "possibly decades", with some patients left at "real risk" of "dangerously late" cancer diagnoses.
It emerged the consultant had "over 700" missing GP letters in his filing cabinet in 2016 - which were discovered to contain 30 'red flag' patients. Four of these patients were subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Scathing criticism of the trust's failure to tackle "difficult colleague" issues were also made, with the report exposing a culture in which "seniority, reputation and influence" took precedence over patient safety.
Concerns about the trust's "haphazard" triage system of GP referral letters dated back "approximately 25 years", the independent review team found.
The Sinn Féin health committee chair said there were clear parallels between the probe and the other two health services scandals also subject to public inquiries - Muckamore Abbey Hospital and the work of neurologist Dr Michael Watt.
"The recurring themes we are seeing about lack of accountability, lack of governance and lack of responsibility are totally unacceptable," Mr Gildernew said.
"Learning that we have gleaned from previous reviews and inquiries must be implemented immediately and not await the outcome of further lengthy reviews or inquiries.
"Health is just too important, no-one should be above oversight and governance."
Mr Gildernew also said the additional stress and worry created for patients and families must be addressed.
The Southern trust report identified a fifth patient whose GP referral was not assessed or 'triaged' by Mr O'Brien who later received a delayed diagnosis of advanced bladder cancer and prostate cancer.
It was found the delays in this man's diagnoses and treatment was "probably clinically significant", with authors saying "time will tell" as to the outcome.
Mr Gildernew said this patient's case was "so stark".
"What lies behind that for the individual and systemically is very troubling," he added.
"Clearly, there is an ongoing public inquiry and no-one needs to pre-judge that. But the consistency of the issues that are raised in urology, Muckamore and neurology around governance and oversight are deeply worrying and need to be addressed urgently."
The Southern health trust urology helpline is still operating for concerned patients requiring information.
The number is 0800 4148520. It operates between 11am and 3pm. Alternatively email urology.enquiry@southerntrust.hscni.net.
