Hospital trust was warned of failing equipment two years ago
AHOSPITAL trust which has launched an inquiry into its radiology department was warned almost two years ago that images were being lost because of failing equipment.
A manager raised concerns that some patients at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust were facing repeat scans and additional exposure to radiation because of the problems.
They asked bosses if radiology teams should continue using the faulty equipment at Kidderminster Hospital, adding: “Who will take responsibility for any potential legality arising from using known faulty equipment if there is a complaint from a patient?”
The Birmingham Post revealed last month how Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust had failed to report back on more than 11,000 X-rays dating back to January. An investigation is underway into the backlog, which affects more than 10,000 patients treated at hospitals including the Alexandra in Redditch, Kidderminster and the Royal in Worcester.
Yet the trust was alerted to problems in December 2014 when the manager, based at Kidderminster Hospital, sent the email to David Hill, the trust’s then chief radiographer.
“Since mid-November 2014, we have been having to X-ray some patients again due to the images being lost between the reader and the consoles,” the manager warned.
“One patient was very upset and would like to be notified of the outcome of the situation.”
The manager said there had been six “clinical incidents” recorded, with three more lost X-ray cases to add. To tackle the issue, staff were avoiding using the “unreliable” equipment but this was adding to a patient backlog.
“This makes working very difficult, slows down the patient through-put and has a direct effect on clinics and booked appointments,” the email warned.
“This has now raised the question of amending the number of booked X-ray appointments during our normal working day.
“My greatest concern is the reX-raying of patients and using equipment that we know is faulty.
This reinforces what we’ve been told by staff that when they do raise concerns they’re not acted on and that’s a huge concern
“The radiographers are very concerned as they are X-raying patients and are unsure if an image will materialise.”
Neal Stote, chair of the Save The Alex campaign, said: “This reinforces what we’ve been told by staff that when they do raise concerns they’re not acted on and that’s a huge concern.
“Once again this brings into question the judgment of Worcester Acute Hospitals Trust.”
A spokesman for WAHT said: “At Kidderminster two computed radiography readers failed intermittently and parts were in short supply, which resulted in image losses between December 2014 and July 2015 involving 13 patients who were contacted at time and x-rays repeated and no patient harm was done.
“The equipment was fully replaced in December 2015 and March 2016.
“We have safety checks in place and doses of radiation were below reportable levels and no patient harm was done.”
Neal Stote