THE consultant at the centre of a public inquiry probing "serious concerns" about the care of urology patients is to assist its work, it has emerged.
More than 1000 former patients of Mr Aidan O'Brien were recalled last year following an internal investigation by the Southern trust.
Inquiry chair Christine Smith QC yesterday confirmed the retired surgeon has consented to be "actively involved in proceedings", with his legal team appointed to engage with her colleagues.
Ms Smith added that the Department of Health and Southern health trust will be the other "core participants", with legal representatives also in place.
The consultant urologist was based in Craigavon Area Hospital for most of his career and retired in June 2020. He also had an extensive private list.
Health Minister Robin Swann ordered the inquiry last November. It is one of three inquiries into major health service failings, with the Muckamore Abbey Hospital abuse scandal and the Dr Michael Watt probes also continuing.
The inquiry team will probe oversight and governance arrangements in the Southern trust, as well as the escalation of complaints to other bodies including the Department of Health.
In June, The Irish News obtained a confidential report which revealed concerns about Mr O'Brien's work went back "possibly decades" - with some patients at risk of "dangerously late" cancer diagnoses.
The Southern trust probe was ordered after it came to light the consultant wasn't 'triaging' or assessing GP referral letters, which he said was "too time consuming".
Leaked by an NHS whistleblower, the document revealed he 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.
Ms Smith yesterday made a fresh appeal for those affected to get in touch.
She has written to families and is calling on anyone who "considers that they have been impacted" to complete a questionnaire or to contact the inquiry directly.
It is expected that the public hearings will begin next spring - when the Muckmore hearings are also due to commence.
Ms Smith said: “While most of our work relates to issues about governance, I have been acutely aware that at the heart of the matters we need to examine, are those patients and families who have been affected by what occurred in the urology department of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.
"So, having obtained the details of those families whose cases resulted in the setting up of this Inquiry, I wrote to each personally to explain how we were going about our work and inviting them to engage with the Inquiry.
“At the end of our work, the report to the Minister will have to make recommendations about things that we hope will make a difference to improving patient safety.
"To achieve this objective, and in order to make meaningful recommendations, it will be important that the Inquiry hears from as many patients and/or families affected as possible. It is with this in mind that I would urge anyone who considers that they have been affected to access the Inquiry’s website, read my letter and complete the questionnaire to tell the Inquiry about their experiences or to contact us directly."
The inquiry chair said she recognised that engagement might be distressing for some individuals.
"I want to reassure those that feel able to help us with our work, that we will treat them and their family sensitively throughout the process.”
