Former Belfast consultant struck off dentists’ register

A former consultant at the Royal Victoria Hospital’s school of dentistry in Belfast, has been struck off and immediately suspended from practising.

The British General Dental Council yesterday ruled that Prof Philip Lamey's name "be erased from the dentists' register" after he was found guilty of more than 100 charges of malpractice.

“The committee has determined that it is necessary for the protection of the public and is otherwise in the public interest to impose an order for the immediate suspension on your registration,” the council said.

In 2011, Prof Lamey was removed from his post as senior oral consultant and 139 patients recalled for a review of their initial treatments amid concerns about possible late diagnoses.

The then Ulster Unionist minister of health Michael McGimpsey also ordered an “urgent independent inquiry” into the circumstances behind the possible late diagnosis of cancer in a number of dental patients, four of whom died.

The Belfast Health Trust removed Prof Lamey from treating its patients and he was also reported to the British general medical and general dental councils.

The dental council has since ruled that 108 charges of malpractice against Prof Lamey were proven.

In its judgment, the council said it was satisfied “its findings show there to have been significant deficiencies” in Prof Lamey’s practice, “which were widespread, over a long period of time and serious”.

The ruling means Prof Lamey cannot practise as a dentist for a minimum of five years. He now has 28 days to decide whether to appeal the judgment by the council’s disciplinary committee.

In August he also lost an unfair dismissal case against Queen’s University Belfast, where he also taught dentistry.