No chair appointed to public inquiry into retired consultant

Mr O’Brien, who retired in June last year, had been a consultant based mainly at Craigavon Hospital for around 30 years.

It is understood Mr O’Brien lodged a number of grievances against the Southern Trust in years prior to his departure, mainly over concern about lengthy waiting lists in the urology department.

Soon after Mr O’Brien’s retirment, the Trust recalled a number of his patients. A public inquiry was announced in mid November and subsequently he was suspended by the GMC.

The Department of Health said the Terms of Reference of the Urology Public Inquiry have not yet been agreed.

A spokesperson said: “The Inquiries Act 2005 requires that an Inquiry Chairperson is consulted on the Terms of Reference before they are set out.

“The Department is therefore currently seeking to appoint a chairperson and the outcome of those discussions cannot be pre-empted. Further details will be provided in this regard when they are available.

The spokesperson added: “There are no plans to have a separate Public Inquiry regarding grievances raised by Mr O’Brien.”

The Southern Trust declined to comment but referred this paper to the Department of Health.

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Widower praises ‘kind and professional’ consultant who is subject of public inquiry Read the full story here-

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Campaigners for O’Brien call for inquiry into Southern Trust Read full story here

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