Neurologist at centre of huge patient recall ‘to retire’
A CONSULTANT neurologist linked to the biggest patient recall in Northern Ireland’s history is set to retire, it has been said.
Dr Michael Watt is stepping down on medical grounds, it was reported.
Dr Watt, who has been based at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital for 20 years, was “restricted” from seeing patients in June 2017.
In May 2018 it emerged that more than 2,500 of his patients, including children, were to be recalled for a case review, following concerns some may have been misdiagnosed. Five months later it was revealed that a further 1,044 of Dr Watt’s patients were also being recalled.
In January Dr Watt was temporarily suspended from practising as a doctor in the UK by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service following a referral by the General Medical Council (GMC). An investigation by the GMC is ongoing.
The Irish News reported yesterday that he is set to retire on medical grounds.
The Belfast Trust said: “The Belfast Trust can confirm that Dr Michael Watt is an employee of the trust and continues to be restricted from all clinical duties; he is not seeing patients.
“Any concerns regarding the conduct, clinical performance or health of a doctor are managed within the relevant trust and Department of Health procedures.
“The trust is unable to make any further comment at this time, as to do so would be in breach of its obligations under data protection.”
A report into the patient recall linked to Dr Watt was due to be published by the Department of Health in June, however it was postponed due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
SDLP MLA Nichola Mallon, who has lobbied the Belfast Trust on behalf of former patients of Dr Watt, called for clarity, adding: “The thousands of patients at the heart of this scandal need to know if this speculation is correct.”