Hse to review thousands of xrays and other scans

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed it has conducted a review of thousands of x-rays and other scans relating to three locum radiologists at seven hospitals nationwide, including facilities within the Cavan and Monaghan Hospital Group.

The main hospitals concerned in the review are Cavan-Monaghan, Bantry General and Kerry General hospitals.

Other hospitals affected to a lesser extent are Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda, which offers orthopedic services for region, Wexford General, Roscommon and Connolly Hospital in Dublin.

At Cavan-General Hospital 2,980 scans were reviewed and 62 patients recalled, with no serious adverse events reported.

At Bantry General 4,388 scans were reviewed covering the period from May to September 2013.

Fifty patients were recalled and one delayed diagnosis was identified.

One patient at Bantry General Hospital in Cork was found to have a delayed cancer diagnosis. The patient is alive and their condition is being managed.

At Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda and Connolly Hospital are currently carrying out a “preliminary audit” of x-rays and scans.

The HSE say the work is being undertaken to provide assurance to patients that their scans have been correctly assessed and reported.

Some of the reviews are continuing, and the period of time under examination goes back several years, including the work of some radiologists who are no longer working with the HSE anymore.

The problems came to light after concerns were raised by colleagues of the radiologists involved in the investigation.

The HSE say they are in contact with all patients requiring recall for follow-up investigations, and added that anyone who has not been contacted by one of the hospitals or their GP has no cause for concern.

HSE needs to reduce reliancy on agency staff - Ó Caoláin

Meanwhile, Cavan Monaghan TD and Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has voiced great concern following the revelations.

 “I am greatly concerned that the care of many thousands of patients was potentially compromised. I understand that one patient had a delayed diagnosis of cancer and my hopes and thoughts are with that patient and their family. We must remember also that many others were recalled and offered further scans, which must have caused great worry. While most of these patients have not suffered any serious clinical outcome the potential was there and this further erodes confidence in our health system.

“In these cases the consultants were employed through a medical agency and in at least one case not on the specialist register. While I acknowledge that the greater number of agency staff are competent and committed healthcare providers, this latest scandal highlights one of the further dangers of relying on unknown temporary staff. Not only have these scans had to be reviewed, but the locum doctors involved and their agencies were likely paid exorbitant fees in the first place, often four times the rate of permanent staff. This money was as good as thrown down the drain, it now seems.

“We need to ensure that the HSE focuses on reducing reliance on agency staff and makes hospital permanent posts attractive for qualified applicants. The current approach is clearly costing us all much more in the medium term.”