Analysis: HSE report reveals concerns over doctor’s performance

The lengthy inquiry into Dr Omar Hassan Khalafalla, who was found guilty two months ago of 28 counts of poor professional performance and professional misconduct, caused widespread concern.

Evidence was given to a Medical Council fitness to practise inquiry regarding questions being raised about Dr Hassan (as he was known) by colleagues in number of hospitals . However, he was able to move from posts in one part of the public system to another.

Following the hearing, Minister for Health Leo Varadkar urged the HSE to review employment procedures for staff who move between hospitals and facilities.

A four-page report drawn up by the HSE for the Minster sets out for the first time its view on the background to the case.

The report says that following his registration by the Medical Council in July 2012, Dr Hassan was employed in four hospitals, the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise; Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar; University Hospital in Galway; and briefly in Our Lady's Hospital in Navan.

It says Dr Hassan started in Portlaoise in mid-July, 2012. He had provided two positive references from surgeons in Sudan. However following concerns about his performance he was taken off on-call duties within days, on July 24th.

It says a remediation process was initiated closely followed by a disciplinary process. After he did not attend a disciplinary meeting in December he was considered by the hospital as having resigned with effect from January 1st, 2013.

It says that following the cessation of his employment in Portlaoise it is apparent that Dr Hassan nominated the three consultant surgeons working there as referees.

“Subsequently, the South Infirmary Victoria Hospital in Cork requested a reference from one of the consultants. The consultant provided a reference reflecting Dr Hassan’s performance at Portlaoise.

“The South Infirmary Victoria Hospital also requested a reference from a second consultant, as did Global Medics – a medial recruitment agency. The consultant concerned refused to provide references in both instances.

No record

“The Midland Regional Hospital has no record of any communications between the hospital and any agency or private hospital in relation to Dr Hassan.”

The report says Dr Hassan submitted his CV to Mayo General Hospital in mid-October 2013 with references from a doctor in Sudan and a GP in Carlow.

He was offered an eight-week contract starting on November 18th.

It says that on December 9th he applied for a post in University Hospital Galway for a position to commence in January 2014.

He also requested and was provided with a reference for a medical locum agency.

However it says that days later on December 13th, 2013, a decision was taken to remove Dr Hassan from on-call duties in Mayo “pending the conclusion of his employment arising from concerns relating to a clinical incident”.

It says the consultant who had provided the reference to the agency in good faith contacted it and sought it to be withdrawn.

It says the consultant concerned had no prior knowledge of the events that had taken place at Portlaoise.

The report says that on December 16th, 2013, the Galway hospital contacted Mayo General seeking confirmation that Dr Hassan had been employed there.

It says the medical manpower unit in Mayo replied that Dr Hassan had been removed from on-call duties on December 13th and that his employment was due to end on January 12th.

The report says that Dr Hassan was interviewed in Galway and was appointed to commence work on January 12th, 2014.

It says he provided three references, none of which related to his employment in Portlaoise.

"It is recorded that he indicated at interview that he had undertaken a short-term locum role in Portlaoise but left to concentrate on completing exams to allow him to work in the United States. "

The report says University Hospital Galway did not seek a reference from Portlaoise.

The report also says that just prior to commencing in Galway and while on annual leave in Mayo – where he had been removed from on-call duties – Dr Hassan was engaged through an agency as a locum doctor in Navan from Monday January 6th to Wednesday January 8th.

Within a fortnight or so of commencing in Galway, Dr Hassan was removed from on-call duties following concerns relating to his performance.

He was placed on administrative leave in February and about the same time the hospital reported him to the Medical Council.

The report says a disciplinary investigation commenced on April 7th and his contract terminated on July 12th.

The report says authorities in Galway urged all medical manpower units nationwide to contact them before offering a post to Dr Hassan and that subsequently Letterkenny General Hospital and Cork University Hospital withdrew job offers.

The report also says that Dr Hassan had been offered a job in Navan in January/February 2014 but this was withdrawn for administrative reasons relating to securing a work permit.