Donnelly 'deeply concerned' it was widely known unauthorised devices being used in surgeries

Stephen Donnelly expects an interim report on 'priority issues' by the year's end. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is "deeply concerned" that others knew that unauthorised devices were being used in spinal surgeries at the time operations were being carried out.

Mr Donnelly has said he expects an interim report on the "highest priority issues" before the end of the year and he intends to publish this.

Asked about suggestions that the surgeon at the centre of the controversy was not the only clinician aware of the issue at the time, Mr Donnelly said: "It is clear that other people knew that non-medical devices were being used.

I'm very concerned about this. I introduced the Patient Safety Act recently to make sure that we have mandatory open disclosure in our country.

He could not say how many people knew at the time, but this will now be examined as part of a full review into the scandal.

Mr Donnelly confirmed that he was first made aware of the issue last year, when surgeries were stopped after "red flags" were raised.

"When concerns were raised last year, specifically around this very complex surgery, the surgeon involved was no longer doing those and indeed my understanding is Temple Street stopped doing those surgeries entirely. So CHI [Children's Health Ireland] moved in a matter of days and then there was an escalating process after that."

'Full authority'

He said Liverpool-based consultant Selvadurai Nayagam, who has been tasked with carrying out the review, will have "full authority to go as wide as he wants and as deep as he wants".

He added: "It is absolutely essential that when people know about this, people involved in the process, people who might be supporting the process, that first and foremost they immediately raise a flag.

"They must feel safe doing that, they must feel supported doing that, and indeed the Patient Safety Act mandates mandatory disclosure to patients. 

"So we must have a culture whereby if somebody sees something that they think is not right, or they have a concern about that, they instantly raise a flag and that they feel safe and protected in doing that.

"That would appear not to have happened in CHI and I am deeply concerned about that."