Barwon Health hires controversial surgeon

Barwon Health has hired a controversial cardiothoracic surgeon, whose performance three other surgeons reported concerns about.

Dr Michael Byrom.

Barwon Health has hired a controversial cardiothoracic surgeon, whose performance three other doctors reported concerns about.

Dr Michael Byrom started working at Barwon Health on Monday.

An Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency spokeswoman said conditions were placed on Dr Byrom’s registration by the Medical Council of NSW in May 2020 and removed in September 2021.

Dr Byrom, who says allegations against him were unfounded, worked at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.

In 2020, The Australian revealed extensive conditions on the heart-lung surgeon’s practice, which he said were imposed with his consent, restricted him to inserting pacemakers and defibrillators and outlined a program of supervision and retraining.

It followed a performance assessment commissioned by the Medical Council of NSW, prompted by complaints by fellow surgeons, the masthead reported.

In 2019, three surgeon­s filed a mandatory repor­t with the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission, detail­ing “serious concerns over Dr Byrom’s performance providing an ongoing threat to patient safety”, The Australian said.

A report by the newspaper said: “Dr Byrom insists the complaints ... were unfounded, citing the council’s performance assessment report, which said “despite the relentless complaints that have been made against (the surgeon), the assessors do not consider that at any time his practice represented a risk to the health or safety of the people of NSW”.”

Dr Byrom has said due to the complaints, in July 2019, he voluntarily chose to cease undertaking major cardiothoracic procedures until the matters could be definitively resolved.

“The result of the cessation of practice while awaiting the outcome of the complaints has meant that I have now not undertaken independent major cardiothoracic procedures for some time,” Dr Byrom told the Australian in 2020.

Dr Byrom this week told the Geelong Advertiser he successfully completed the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons re-entry program in 2021 after voluntarily stepping away from practice.

“I am very pleased that a review from the Medical Council of NSW found that my practice was consistent with the expected standards of our field and of my peers,” he said.

“I am pleased to join the surgical team at University Hospital Geelong and to be part of the provision of high-quality care for our community.”

He said he looked forward to contributing his experience and expertise to advancing patient care and safety.

The Medical Council of NSW did not comment on findings, citing privacy provisions.

Barwon Health acting clinical director of surgical and critical care Michael Rowland said there were currently no restrictions, undertakings or conditions imposed on Dr Byrom.

“All medical practitioners engaged by Barwon Health, including Dr Byrom, undergo a rigorous and multi-layered pre-employment and credentialing process consistent with standards set out by state and national regulatory bodies,” he said.

It’s understood Dr Byrom has previously mentored junior surgeons at Barwon Health.

The Geelong Advertiser is not suggesting Dr Byrom’s level of care has been substandard.

Originally published as Barwon Health hires controversial surgeon