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Belfast health trust orders patient recall of children with hearing problems

More than 40 children who are patients at the Belfast health trust are being recalled following concerns about audiology services
More than 40 children who are patients at the Belfast health trust are being recalled following concerns about audiology services More than 40 children who are patients at the Belfast health trust are being recalled following concerns about audiology services

NORTHERN'S biggest health trust is recalling more than 40 children with hearing problems after concerns were raised about "incomplete records".

The Belfast trust last night confirmed a total of a 43 paediatric patients are being invited to attend review appointments over coming weeks.

The development comes five months after a Sinn Féin MLA met with the Department of Health to inquire about the work of an audiologist caught up in a recall scandal in the Republic - following claims he was working in the north's health service.

In June, the Republic's Health Service Executive (HSE) issued a formal apology to almost 50 families in Co Mayo and Co Roscommon affected by serious failings carried out by one audiologist.

Pat Sheehan, an Assembly member for west Belfast said he had been contacted by a senior Belfast Trust official on Tuesday evening, who confirmed the recall in the north.

"This involves cases of poor record keeping of children's audiology assessments. It is vital these children get reassessed as a matter of urgency to ensure they are receiving the right care," he said.

"We raised these concerns after party colleagues in Mayo/Roscommon had made us aware of problems with audiology services. I subsequently met with the Permanent Secretary at the Department and chief executive of the Belfast Trust in October to seek assurances that services in the north were not impacted."

Mr Sheehan said that while he was given assurances at the time, the recall "suggested otherwise".

A trust spokeswoman said the recall was a "precautionary measure" to ensure the trust "holds and maintains a complete set of notes for each child".

She added: "These (43) children have each been invited to attend an audiology review appointment with access to an Ear, Nose and throat consultant during the next few weeks.

"The trust has sought to minimise the impact of any inconvenience that this might cause children and parents at this busy time of year by arranging extra clinic dates to suit each child as far as possible".