Dental Hospital Independent Inquiry
Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety
- The Minister for Health, Social
Services and
Public Safety has ordered that an Independent Inquiry be conducted into the related circumstances surrounding
and leading up to the announcement by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust on the 4th February 2011
that a number of patients had been recalled for check-ups following a review of the clinical performance
of a senior dental consultant at the Royal School of Dentistry.
- The
purpose of the Inquiry will be to:
a) Evaluate the general quality of care provided by the School of Dentistry and Belfast HSC Trust to all those patients recalled for review as a consequence of the Belfast HSC Trust announcement up to the start of this Inquiry;
b) Evaluate the systematic nature, extent, timeliness and effectiveness of communications between and within each of the Royal School of Dentistry, the Belfast HSC Trust, the HSC Board and Public Health Agency, and the Department as well as that with patients and the general public; and
c) Make recommendations arising from the Inquiry findings on relevant improvements to quality and communications. - The
Inquiry will be conducted under the terms of the Inquiries Act 2005.
- The
Inquiry will be chaired by Mr Brian Fee QC and conducted by an Inquiry Panel comprised of an independent
senior medical/dental clinician and an independent lay person. The Inquiry will be supported by an Assessor capable of collating and analysing relevant information
under the direction of the Panel.
- The Inquiry will present an interim report to the Minister by the 31st March 2011 which will focus on 2 (a) and 2 (b) above. The Final report of the Inquiry will be required to be presented to the Minister by 31st May 2011, unless otherwise determined by the Minister.
Inquiry Chairman
Brian Fee QC
Biography
Queen's
University, LL.B. 1978
Bar of Ireland
- Vice-Chairman of the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland 1996-98.
- Chairman of the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland 1998-2000.
- Former Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Bar of Northern Ireland. Member of Legal Services Commission.
Other
Panel members
Margaret
Murphy
Biography
- a Member of the Steering Committee of the Patients for Patient Safety strand of the WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety;
- a Member of the inaugural steering committee of the World Alliance for Patient Safety Collaborative Centre for Patient Safety Solutions;
- one of two patient representatives appointed by the Irish Minister for Health and Children to The Commission for Safety and Quality Assurance in Healthcare;
- a Council Member of the Irish Society for Quality and Safety in Healthcare;
- a Board Member of the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board and also acts as consumer surveyor in hospital accreditation;
- a Member of the Patient Forum, Cork University Hospital, Ireland;
- a Member of the Advisory Committee, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Limerick, Ireland;
- a Member of the Irish Medical Council's steering committee Professional Practice Review Programme for General Practitioners; and
- associated with the Irish Patients Association and the advocacy group Patient Focus.
Professor Stephen Porter
Biography
- Professor, BSc, PhD, MD, FDSRCS, FDSRCSEd, FHEA
- Institute Director
- Professor of Oral Medicine
- Academic Head, Oral Medicine & Special Needs Dentistry Unit
- Honorary Consultant in Oral Medicine, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust
Evelyn Cummins (Assessor)
Biography
- Retired from Northern Ireland Civil Service 31 March 2010
Most
recent posts
in NICS at Grade 5/Assistant Secretary level:
- 2006 to 2010 Head of Office of the NI Executive Brussels OFMDFM
- 2002 to 2006 Head of North Belfast Community Action Unit OFMDFM
- 2000 to 2002 Head of Fisheries Division DARD
- 1996 to 2000 Head of Grants and Subsidies DARD.
Address:
Dental
Hospital Inquiry
Room C3.10
Castle Buildings
Stormont
Belfast
BT4 3SQ
Room C3.10
Castle Buildings
Stormont
Belfast
BT4 3SQ
Telephone: (028)
90522161
