Martin vows to act on Neary inquiry

PROPOSALS for a public inquiry into the actions of obstetrician Dr Michael Neary will be brought to Government within a month, Health Minister Mícheál Martin announced last night.

Patient Focus, the group representing the victims of Dr Neary, has called for a public statutory inquiry into the circumstances surrounding events at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda going back over 20 years.

Mr Martin met members of the group for over two hours yesterday afternoon to discuss how best to proceed with the inquiry. He has promised to meet them again in three weeks.

At the meeting, the minister reiterated his shock at the findings of the Medical Council's investigation into complaints against the former consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist.

"The report was a dreadful indictment of the treatment of the women concerned who have been both physically and emotionally scarred," Mr Martin said.

Dr Neary was struck off the medical register by the Medical Council in July after a three-year investigation. He was found guilty of professional misconduct after he unnecessarily removed the wombs of 10 women.

Since Dr Neary was suspended in 1998, up to 60 women have said he needlessly removed their wombs when they gave birth in the Drogheda hospital.

A number of other women also claim they have been left damaged and in pain as a result of gynaecological procedures performed by the doctor.

After listening to the views expressed by the group, Mr Martin said it was clear a further inquiry was required into a number of wider issues.

In particular, there was a need to establish how such practices were allowed continue for such a long period at the hospital, he said.

Patient Focus believes complaints were made by patients but were not followed up. Mr Martin is now considering a number of options in relation to the issue and will be bringing a detailed submission to Government in the "next number of weeks".

Fidelma Geraghty, one of the women affected by gynaecological procedures performed by Dr Neary, said their main priority was to find out what happened and why it was allowed to continue for so long.

"That is why we feel a public inquiry is so necessary," said Ms Geraghty, who described the meeting with Mr Martin as constructive.

The group wants a statutory public inquiry, similar to the Finlay Inquiry into contaminated blood products. It wants to see nurses, doctors and management publicly questioned.

More than 50 women are taking civil actions against Dr Neary.