Report Condemns Serious Failings At Belfast Dental Hospital

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A report has slammed the Royal Dental Hospital, Belfast, highlighting “serious deficiencies” in care.

The Department of Health has recently published a full report into dental services at the hospital following the launch of an enquiry in 2011; the enquiry was ordered after 117 patients who had visited the hospital were recalled for dental check-ups.

At the time, concerns were raised over the practice of Professor Philip Lamey, who has since been accused of 46 counts of malpractice by the General Dental Councils; the charges relate to 33 patients.

An initial summary of the report was published in June 2011, but the full report has only just been made available due to delays brought about by the fact that regulatory processes were not completed on time.

The final report was overseen by Brian Fee QC and a 42-point action plan has been drawn up to address issues at the hospital. Health minister, Edwin Poots, stated that all the measures and recommendations should be in place by September 2014.

Mr Poots said that the situation should never have arisen at the Royal Dental Hospital and added that he is determined that nothing like this would ever happen again. The report highlights serious failings in the provision of oral medicine care at the hospital, which has had an adverse effect on patients.

Mr Poots said that the recommendations will be heeded and hopefully the situation will improve very quickly. The patients who were affected by the care they received have been contacted and the Belfast Trust has apologised profusely for the situation.

 

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