THE NORTH’S Minister for Health Michael McGimpsey has ordered an “urgent independent inquiry” into the circumstances behind the possible late diagnosis of cancer in a number of dental patients, four of whom have died.
Mr McGimpsey announced the inquiry in the Northern Assembly yesterday after 139 patients were recalled for a review of their initial treatment amid concerns about possible late diagnoses.
The patients were recalled after a review of the clinical performance of Prof Philip Lamey, a senior consultant at Belfast’s Royal School of Dentistry. The Belfast Health Trust has removed Prof Lamey from treating its patients. He has also been reported to the British general medical and general dental councils. He remains an employee of the trust “under supervision”.
The Belfast Trust in the initial stages of its investigations identified 22 patients about whom it had concerns, 15 of whom had oral cancer. Four of these 22 patients died, three from oral cancer and one from “unknown causes”; 117 other patients have been recalled.
The trust said it was not in a position to comment on whether or not the deaths were due to late diagnosis. “It is part of the investigation,” said a spokeswoman.
The trust’s medical director, Dr Tony Stevens, said everyone possibly affected has been contacted.
Mr McGimpsey said that in November 2009 the Belfast Trust “became aware that six people who had been referred for surgery following a diagnosis of oral cancer could potentially have been referred at an earlier stage”.
