Scope of review into former consultant Urologist Aidan O'Brien widened by Southern Health Trust

The Southern Health Trust is extending a review into the work of former consultant urologist Dr Aidan O'Brien.

Patients treated by Dr O'Brien for a urology cancer and for renal stone disease, who have not already been reviewed will be contacted directly by the trust. The Urology Services Inquiry is looking into potential governance issues within the Southern Trust and the work of one of its consultant urologists, Aidan O'Brien.

The most recent publication by the Urology services review showed 2,112 patients have had their records examined.

Of these, 527 of required a new appointment with a Southern Trust Urology Consultant.

Following review, 352 of these patients required a change in their care and treatment. 

The remaining 175 patients did not have any change. Former private patients of Dr O'Brien who have concerns over their treatment are also being asked to contact the review.

Mr O'Brien has always defended his work and in response he said: “This Lookback Review was initiated in June 2020 on foot of an incorrect allegation made by the Trust that patients had not been placed on a waiting list for readmission for ureteric stent removal or replacement.

“Changes to management plans, such as those exemplified in the report, are commonly recommended or required when patients are reviewed or when their elective admissions for procedures are considered, for several reasons including changes in their circumstances, changes in their general health or in the condition being managed.

"Such changes have been all the more commonly required when patients have waited years for review and years for elective admission due to the inadequacy of the urology service provided by Southern Health and Social Care Trust.

“The Lookback Review has been conducted by the Trust itself, and I was not consulted or invited to provide any input.

"I therefore believe that the report contains questionable inferences and conclusions which should be regarded with caution.

"I remain fully engaged with the ongoing independent public inquiry, which is looking more broadly at urology services which have been provided by the Trust.”

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