Patients and families of those who were the subject of a review into spinal surgeries at Galway University Hospitals will meet with clinicians and hospital managers next week.
The meetings follow the completion of an audit into 198 procedures carried out by a consultant surgeon, who worked at the two public hospitals in Galway city until late 2014.
In four cases, serious concerns emerged. In other cases, some issues were identified and in all others, no concerns were found.
'Serious concerns' about surgeon at two Galway hospitals pic.twitter.com/4Cq7RMUlUi
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 18, 2016
Two of the four patients whose treatment caused serious concerns have since died.
It is understood both were suffering from terminal illness at the time of their operations.
The report says that while surgical intervention did not have fatal consequences, it may have shortened their life expectancy and accelerated their deaths.
The audit identified concerns over whether surgery was the best option at the time for many of the patients reviewed.
The investigation involved a review of care and treatment between January 2013 and November 2014.
Many families say the first they heard about the process was when they received correspondence from the Saolta Hospital Group in recent days.
In one instance, where a relative has since died, family members had questioned the manner in which treatment was progressed during the hospital stay.
The family say their concerns were not acted upon then. They say the first time they were informed about the audit was when they got, what they described, as a standard letter in the post.
In it the Saolta Group outlined the background to the audit and provided a synopsis of the findings in relation to the individual concerned.
This detailed some of the serious concerns that had been raised and described the decision to carry out a surgical procedure as "misconceived".
This family says it has several questions about the entire process that it hopes to get answers to when it meets hospital representatives next week.
The doctor is no longer working in Ireland.
It is understood he is now practising abroad. He resigned from his post before the audit process began and did not participate in the inquiry.
The Saolta group has refused to comment on whether he was subject to disciplinary procedures before he left his post in Galway, saying such matters are governed by confidential arrangements.
Those affected were seen at University Hospital Galway or at Merlin Park Hospital.
As a result of the inquiry by two independent orthopaedic surgeons, new processes have been put in place at the Galway University Hospitals - the umbrella title for the facilities in question.
The hospital group says increased supports have been introduced for spinal surgery and that multidisciplinary team meetings are now held for complex cases.
A helpline has been opened for any patients who may have concerns.
It can be reached on 1800 659 4589.
