Committee seeks independent review of ‘devastating neurological outcomes’ for Beaumont patients

After two patients of a surgeon at Beaumont Hospital suffered “devastating neurological outcomes”, a doctor-led committee at the hospital – in a letter obtained by The Ditch – has asked a clinical director to consider stopping the surgeon performing certain surgeries.

The committee, which reviews serious incidents at the north Dublin hospital, in the 2026 letter sought help from the clinical director with appointing independent experts to a review of the consultant neurosurgeon’s work.

The Serious Incident Review Team (SIRT) committee alleges in its correspondence that the surgeon failed to explain concerns to the hospital’s legal team.

The neurosurgeon allegedly “did not fully address queries raised by the hospital’s risk and legal team” about claims a surgical swab was left inside a patient after a procedure, according to the 31 March, 2026 letter to National Neuroscience Centre clinical director professor Donncha O’Brien.

The letter – signed by director of clinical Dr Catriona Kelly and governance lead clinical director Dr Mark Given – also alleges that consultant anaesthesiologist Dr Irene Leonard “raised concerns” about the same procedure in “her recent email”.

The committee asked for recommendations for appointees to the review.

“The SIRT committee has commissioned an Independent Expert Review of these cases. The reviewer will need to be a Neurosurgical Consultant independent of the service that holds the appropriate skills and expertise to conduct a comprehensive review,” reads the letter.

“I would appreciate your assistance in nominating an appropriately qualified individual; appreciating that this person will most likely be from a centre in the UK,” said the committee.

O’Brien was also asked to consider whether the surgeon’s work should be restricted.

“The SIRT committee have requested that you, as Clinical Director, consider whether the Consultant Neurosurgeon in question should refrain from performing (the procedure), pending outcome of this review,” reads the letter.

The committee also sought “assurances from (O’Brien) that all safeguards are in place”, including “robust morbidity and mortality, audit and incident reporting processes”.

Beaumont Hospital declined to comment.