Repeat colon exams urged

UP TO 390 patients who underwent colonoscopies at Calvary Hospital between last November and May this year may have to undergo a repeat procedure after revelations a doctor may have missed a small part of the bowel during the procedure.

Calvary’s national chief operating officer Matt Hanrahan said Calvary Health Care was contacting all patients who underwent a colonoscopy with the late Dr Hugh Jackson between November and May at Calvary in Lenah Valley to undergo a repeat procedure because a small part of the bowel may not have been viewed.

“We have taken advice from medical experts who believe, as a precaution, it is advisable to repeat the procedure.

“This advice will be discussed with every patient in a face-toface clinic meeting to consider their personal situation.

“This is a precautionary measure to be 100 per cent sure nothing abnormal has been missed.”

Mr Hanrahan said based on the advice it had received from its medical experts, the hospital believed that the overall risk for the entire group of patients was low.

“Nevertheless, the risk for individual patients is uncertain, and because of this we are advising those patients to consider a repeat colonoscopy,” he said.

The issue was raised after nursing staff observed that Dr Jackson’s health may have affected his clinical performance.

And questions have been raised as to why Dr Jackson was allowed to continue performing colonoscopies for so long.

Mr Hanrahan would not confirm if Dr Jackson was spoken to about the situation before he died a few weeks ago but said concerns from nurses had been raised since November.

“We have processes and procedures to deal with these types of situations and they were enacted,” he said.

“Given the circumstances we will be reviewing those procedures.”

Patients who saw Dr Jackson between last November and May of this year can call 1800 549 679 but they will be contacted by a nurse if they have not been already.

Matt Hanrahan