A PROFESSIONAL misconduct hearing into a doctor at the centre of Northern Ireland's biggest patient recall is to begin next month - more than three years after the scandal broke.
The Irish News has learned a date is being arranged for September for an initial preliminary hearing that will examine concerns about the work of consultant neurologist, Dr Michael Watt.
Sources say a formal hearing will begin in early November, with evidence to be given over 50 days - which will not run consecutively - in the unprecedented case.
The hearing could potentially run for a year.
The General Medical Regulator (GMC), the professional body for doctors, launched an investigation into Dr Watt after "serious concerns" were raised about his clinical practice that led to the recall of 2,500 patients of his "active caseload" in May 2018. Further recalls followed.
A high-profile consultant who was based at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for over 20 years, he was suspended from practising as a doctor in the UK in January 2019. He also had an extensive private list.
The GMC would not comment on hearing dates, with a spokesman saying they would be published by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) around a month before they’re due to take place.
The MPTS is the independent body which runs hearings and makes decisions about a doctor's fitness to practice medicine. It has the power to strike a medic off the GMC register.
They were also unable to confirm dates.
However, the Irish News understands that former patients have been briefed about the development .
It is not known if Dr Watt will appear before the MPTS panel.
Last month it emerged the consultant will not give evidence to a public inquiry examining his work despite being summoned in March.
Inquiry chair Brett Lockhart said they had gone to great lengths and even sought an expert second opinion about his fitness to appear.
Mr Lockhart confirmed Dr Watt was deemed medically unfit.
Some patients were left devastated by the announcement, describing it as a "slap in the face".
Multiple Sclerosis patients as well as people suffering from Parkinson's, stroke and Motor Neurone Disease were among those affected by misdiagnosis and given the wrong medication.
Some former neurology patients also underwent a highly invasive procedure known as an 'epidural blood patch procedure', which rendered them inmobile for weeks and dependent on heavy tranquilliser medication.
In April, the Belfast trust admitted that a review of 66 'blood patch' patients found that 45 had the procedure carried out unnecessarily. An apology was issued and written confirmation sent to those affected.
Hundreds of patients have taken legal action against the health service over the past three years, including those who underwent the procedure.
Following the third "and final" recall in April, Health Minister Robin Swann issued an unreserved public apology, telling the Stormont Assembly that around a fifth of high risk patients seen by Dr Watt received an "insecure diagnosis".
