Dr James Cotton said repeated complaints should have led to Dr Sam Eljamel being removed from surgery years earlier.
Dr James Cotton told the Eljamel Inquiry that Dr Sam Eljamel could have been stopped from operating seven years before his 2014 dismissal.
Dr Cotton said concerns led to Dr Eljamel being placed under supervision in June 2013, and that he would not have allowed him to operate after reviewing them.
The inquiry heard complaints about allegedly botched sight surgery in 2007 and December 2012.
Dr Cotton questioned why Dr Eljamel had been allowed to operate alone and said patient safety required stronger action.