A former consultant at the Southern Health Trust has told Northern Ireland's inquiry into urology services that the provision was 'grossly inadequate from the start'. Aidan O'Brien, who held senior roles for almost 28 years, gave his first appearance before the inquiry, which is examining the trust's handling of urology services prior to May 2020.
Mr O'Brien said the service established in the early 1990s was never properly set up and he struggled with the board to get the recognition it required. When asked by lead counsel Martin Wolfe KC if there was a demand capacity mismatch from the beginning, Mr O'Brien replied 'that is absolutely correct'. He added that if Northern Ireland were a sovereign country, it would be 'at the bottom of the European League' for dedicated medics and services, with the Republic of Ireland just above.
The inquiry heard that inadequate urology provision is not just a local issue but an international one. Mr O'Brien noted that the then director of public health did not think such a service was needed when the trust's population in the 1990s exceeded 269,000, while the UK average was one urologist per 53,000 people.
Mr O'Brien highlighted financial systemic issues and bias in recognising the service's importance as factors contributing to its failure to meet growing demand. He also described his frustrations when requesting extra resources from chief executive John Templeton, saying he felt repeatedly asking was 'counter-productive' and led to 'disillusionment and fatigue'.
The inquiry, established in March 2021 by then-health minister Robin Swann, has previously heard that over 1,000 patients' records were recalled, with hundreds receiving suboptimal care. Mr O'Brien's witness statement described a 'relentless burden' in his role.
