Reviews of X-rays and scans to take place at other hospitals where locums worked

About 100 of the thousands of X-rays and other scans reviewed because of errors identified in the work of three locum radiologists required a follow-up, Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has said.

However, he told the Dáil that reviews would be conducted at a number of other hospitals where two of the three locum radiologists identified as having made errors worked.

Reviews of the work of a third locum, where a delayed cancer diagnosis was identified, have been completed.

Mr Varadkar said “thousands of X-rays were reviewed and only a small fraction – 100 or so – required follow-up and a repeat scan”.

Support

“Very regrettably, one incident of delayed diagnosis has been confirmed, and the HSE is following up appropriately with this patient to provide whatever support is necessary.”

The X-rays and other scans were reviewed when mistakes were identified in the work of the three locum radiologists employed by the HSE.

However, the Minister stressed, “we will always have locums, particularly in smaller hospitals, because in a small hospital with three or four radiologists or cardiologists or whatever, when someone’s on maternity leave, or someone’s out sick or someone’s away, they’re very dependent on locums”.

“In bigger hospitals it’s different. If you’ve a rota of 15 or 16, you can cover for one or two absences.”

Fine Gael TD for Louth Fergus O’Dowd said there was a “major sense of déjà vu about the new revelations regarding cases of misdiagnosis” following incidents at Tallaght hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda in 2008.

He said he was “concerned at the lack of a dynamic within the HSE to deal with this issue”.

“Heads must roll as a consequence of what has happened,” he said.

No findings

Mr Varadkar said: “I think it’s very important to bear in mind that no findings have yet been made against any of the consultants referred to.”

Independent Roscommon-South Leitrim TD Denis Naughten asked what was being done to protect patients in the UK and Australia, where he said the three doctors now worked.

Mr Varadkar said “measures have been taken to contact the hospitals overseas in which these three doctors are working”.

As part of the HSE’s risk assessment process, “it may require an audit of work carried out by locum consultants in other hospitals”.