Dozens of patients recalled as review of scans goes on
UNIVERSITY Hospital Kerry has recalled 45 patients as part of a review of more than 46,000 scans conducted by a locum radiologist.
The review was initiated after it came to light that a locum consultant radiologist who previously worked for the hospital failed to diagnose serious illnesses in seven patients.
The South/South West Hospital Group yesterday confirmed 26,625 images have been reviewed to date. The reviews completed account for almost 60% of the impacted patients.
The review concerns scans, Xrays and ultrasounds conducted in the Kerry hospital between March 2016 and July 2017.
A further 11 patients were recalled over Christmas, bringing the total number of recalls to 45.
Two of the patients recalled over Christmas week required further clinical treatment.
In a statement issued yesterday, the hospital group said: ‘The helpline 1800 742 900 remains open from 9am to 5pm on normal working days.
‘University Hospital Kerry notes and appreciates the patience and understanding patients and their families have shown to the helpline operators and this is very much appreciated.’
Health Minister Simon Harris said yesterday he would consider charging the Health Information and Quality Authority watchdog with carrying out an independent review into the scan issue.
The minister said he expects the review to be completed towards the end of January at which time he will meet with the hospital group to review the situation.
Asked about the 45 patients that had been recalled to date, the minister told RTÉ News: ‘I think we need to be very careful that we don’t define people needing to be recalled in all circumstances as a bad thing – because I absolutely want our health service to take every precaution possible and I know that many people being recalled are for precautionary reasons.’
He continued: ‘It is very important that we don’t have people unnecessarily concerned.
‘A huge majority of the people being recalled are being recalled for a precautionary reason and I think it’s right and proper that the hospital would recall them.’
The minister said he is keeping an ‘open mind’ on the next steps that need to be taken following the outcome of the review.
He said: ‘I want this review to be completed as quickly as possible, I want any lessons to be learned, to be learned. And I intend to meet with the South/South West Hospital Group when this review is completed so that we can find out what lessons do need to be learned in this situation and, indeed, are those lessons applicable to other hospitals across the health service?
‘So I’m keeping a very open mind on next steps that need to be taken pending that review because my priority must now be that the scans are reviewed as quickly as possible. We also need to be conscious of the fact that the Medical Council is investigating this matter too.’
The minister said he will decide if Hiqa should get involved ‘once the review is completed’. He said he expects it to be completed ‘in the month of January’ or at the ‘start of February’, and added: ‘I’ll meet with the hospital group and decide on the basis of that review what steps need to be taken next.’
One week ago, the helpline which was set up for concerned patients had received approximately 550 calls.
The hospital has said that patients will only be contacted if an issue is identified in the review of their scan.
At least three of the illnesses missed by the radiologist in question were cancers.
Sinn Féin councillor Toireasa Ferris told the Irish Daily Mail last week that one of the cancer patients has limited treatment options as a result of their misdiagnosis.
‘They had a scan and had been assured that it was nothing,’ said Ms Ferris
‘They subsequently went for further diagnostic treatment to discover that they had it [cancer].
‘And because a number of months had passed – I think six – and because it [the cancer] had progressed, the family concede that the treatment options are now limited,’ the Kerry councillor added.
Six radiologists are involved in the review of images at the hospital where more than 20,000 scans still need to be reviewed.
‘They were assured it was nothing’