Expert to review hospital patient care

By Catherine Shanahan>BR> The North Eastern Health Board (NEHB) has received the consent of patients for an independent review of care and treatment by consultant obstetricians at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

A former obstetrician at the hospital, Dr Michael Neary, was found guilty in the High Court last November of unnecessarily removing the womb of one of his patients, 37-year-old Alison Gough, of Ardee Co Louth. However, the NEHB denies the current review is linked to the behaviour of Dr Neary who is being sued by more than 60 women for allegedly carrying out unjustified hysterectomies during childbirth.

The Irish Hospital Consultant’s Organisation (IHCA) said it was highly unusual for an independent expert to be brought in when there were already channels open to patients to obtain hospital records.