Official Criticized For Not Recognizing the Competence of the Consultant Radiologist

About three years back Dr Stephen Elliott was the radiologist consultant Antrim Area Hospital Trust, Northern Ireland. But concerns were expressed by Department of Health chiefs about the consultant receiving extra money for his work. But the hospital authorities made his payment and also reduced his workload. The shock findings emerged from a major report, prompted by concerns raised by clinical staff in Antrim Area Hospital, about the clinical judgment and decision making of the consultant. Senior managers at a top hospital were heavily criticized today for failing to recognize the consultant’s competence. The centre of a breast cancer screening scandal affected about 7,000 women across Northern Ireland.

These 7,000 women were later asked to come in for a reassessment. In a total of 400 women who were tested 14 were found to have breast cancer that was not picked up when they were initially screened. Dr Elliott was also employed with the Belfast City Hospital. They also criticized the interview panel at the time of his appointment. It points to ratings awarded to him that appeared to be inconsistent with the comments made by panel members. Concerns also arise from the number of panel members who made changes to the ratings given to the candidate. Those women who were detected with cancer are on a path of care and treatment for their breast cancer. They said that the underlying cause of the problem was a shortage of specialists and asked the Department of Health to attract more trainees.