72 patients now recalled over suspect scans at UHK

AS THE review of suspect scans at University Hospital Kerry UHK continues, new HSE figures reveal that 72 patients have now been recalled to undergo new scans.

A team of 10 consultant radiologists are working on the review which involves a complete recheck of every scan examined by a locum radiologist who worked at the hospital from March 2016 to July 2017.

The review involves a recheck of 46,235 individual scans including X-rays, scans and ultrasounds relating to 26,756 individual patients, the majority of whom live in Kerry. A small number, about 10 to 15 per cent, are patients from Cork and West Limerick.

According to the latest update on the review provided by the HSE and the South/South West Hospital Group, of which UHK is a member, 33,950 of the suspect images have now been rechecked and the review is now 73.4 per cent complete.

Approximately 76 per cent of patients involved in the review have had their images rechecked and anyone requiring new scans has been contacted.

The latest update, issued late last week, said that so far the number of patients recalled stands at 79, which represents a significant increase on the 49 recalls announced the previous week.

The scan crisis at UHK began in July and August 2017 when management at the hospital were notified of three missed cancer diagnoses that had not been picked up by the locum when they examined the patient’s images.

The radiologist was immediately placed on administrative leave and a preliminary audit of their work was carried out.

Based on the results of that audit it was decided to carry out a recheck of every single scan the radiologist had examined while employed at the hospital.

The radiologist at the centre of the review resigned from their post in mid October and is no longer employed by the HSE.

To date, according to the HSE, the recheck has uncovered seven missed cancer diagnoses, at least one of which is understood to be inoperable.

The HSE said it expects the review will be complete by the end of the month.