Private hospital denies claims practices are sub-standard

Dr Julian Dockeray's letter follows comments made earlier this week by Danny O'Hare, chairman of the Council's fitness-to-practise committee, which heard the case of Mount Carmel consultant obstetrician Dr Gerry Rafferty.

Dr Rafferty was found guilty of professional misconduct for his treatment of two female patients. One of the women had to be rushed to hospital for emergency surgery to remove her fallopian tube.

The other patient told of how she lost the use of one of her kidneys following a hysterectomy carried out by Dr Rafferty.

Mr O'Hare stated the committee wished to record its concern about "the attendant danger to patient safety" if such operations are still being carried out.

If the practice was continuing in the Mount Carmel hospital "then any surgeon observing that protocol could be putting patients in danger."

However, in a letter to the council, Dr Dockeray said the hospital's protocol is for a minimum number of medical and nursing professionals – including a consultant surgeon, an anaesthetist, four trained theatre nurses and a minimum of one theatre assistant – are present for each surgical procedure.

There is also scope for individual surgeons to personally employ additional qualified theatre assistants if they need to.

Robust

No trainee doctors undertake procedures and all surgeons are expected to comply with the Royal College of Surgeons' standards.

Dr Dockeray said: "Mount Carmel has in place a robust internal reporting system for any incidents and complaints which may arise and this is overseen by a clinical governance committee.

"Mount Carmel treats more than 40,000 patients annually. For over 60 years our dedicated team of 550 medical and other professionals have provided qualified and quality maternity and specialist care."

He said it was "deeply regrettable that any negative implication concerning our surgical practices may have arisen at this inquiry".