Dr Brennan later told how the atmosphere at the br

Dr Brennan later told how the atmosphere at the breast screening unit soured after a surgeon accused him of killing a patient.

He claimed Martin Cooper refused to speak to him for nine months and sent him three ‘unpleasant’ letters.

Brennan also claimed the unit at Exeter was ‘largely achieving its objectives.

‘

He added: ‘We completed the first screening round on time.

Overall the cancer detection rate was acceptable, though it was not great.

‘It seemed to be progressing and and providing a reasonable level of service.

‘

The consultant radiologist told the committee he went through a difficult period at the end of the first year.

‘At the start I actually had a good relationship with Martin Cooper but one day I met him in the car park.

‘He looked very sour and said “You killed one of my patients.

”

‘Apparently a patient had been referred for investigation for surgery and had died.

‘Then I got a series of letters from him which were quite vitriolic and fairly unpleasant.

I don’t think he spoke to me for about nine months.

‘Then suddenly one day he walked into my office and started talking about a patient and we just continued.

‘

Brennan also denied being rude to patients and staff at the unit although he admitted a ‘personality clash’ with Martin Cooper’s wife Joan, a breast care nurse.

He said: ‘Mrs Cooper had very different ideas as to what her role was and she declared those views fairly early on.

‘She saw herself as predominantly there for counselling.

I understood the breast care nurse also had a role to assist with the various diagnostic procedures.

‘Mrs Cooper obviously did not think this was appropriate.

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His barrister Nicola Davies QC asked: ‘She said you did not want them to be present when you were discussing things with the patient.

‘

Brennan replied: ‘I think that is completely incorrect.

At no time was I ever accompanied by a nurse actually seeing a patient.

‘I have never knowingly been rude to her.

If I have offended her, I am sorry.

‘Some of it is personality.

I found her very assertive and I think we clashed personalities.

‘

Brennan denied he had been ‘short’ with patients who had been cleared of cancer.

‘Most of the patients were so relieved to here there was nothing to worry about they were up and out as soon as possible.

‘I wouldn’t say I had a long drawn-out conversation, but I hope I delivered essential information in an easily understandable way.

‘

The hearing continues tomorrow.

(Tues)
ends

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