THROUGHOUT yesterday, patients who had received letters in relation to Dr Michael Watt contacted media outlets to express their fears, while also questioning the time it took for the Belfast trust to formally notify them of its actions.
While Belfast health trust chiefs say they had to follow procedures and carry out internal reviews after whistleblower doctors first contacted them in December 2016 before ordering an independent probe, the 17-month delay in informing patients remains a considerable one.
Patients attending Dr Watt had a wide and complex range of "life-changing" conditions - from multiple sclerosis to epilepsy, strokes and Parkinson's disease.
Dr Mark Mitchelson, who is responsible for neurosciences in the trust and was the public face of its crisis management team yesterday, repeatedly apologised for the "distress and anxiety" caused.
It is accepted the trust acted appropriately in terms of review protocols, but its communication with patients - many of whom have been stuck on waiting lists while in agonising pain - could no doubt have been better.
The extent of the patient recall also means it will be up to three months before some patients are reviewed, depending on the severity of their condition.
While some may be classed as "less urgent" than others, the delay will inevitably cause mental distress to some very vulnerable people battling chronic and long-term conditions.
It can only be hoped that the helpline and additional expertise drafted in to clinics over the next 12 weeks goes some way to providing assurance and allaying patients' fears.
Read more:
- Who is Dr Michael Watt?
- Unprecedented patient recall following probe into neurologist's work
- 'What if I don't have MS and have been taking the wrong drugs all this time?'
