An Update on the NHSCT Radiology Review
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust announced a lookback review into 13,000+ radiology images in June 2021. It has now been reported that the review has revealed “major discrepancies”.
The locum radiologist worked at the Northern Health Trust hospitals between July 2019 and February 2020 and has it been reported that so far major discrepancies have affected 12 cases.
The article suggests that the doctor who chairs the review steering group Dr O’Reilly, has advised that a number of affected patients may have died due to poor imaging. However, Dr O’Reilly has stated they are currently unsure if patients died as a direct result of a failure to diagnose. Dr O’Reilly also reports that it is mostly CT scans that are concerned, where inaccurate initial reading of the scans could, or is likely to have had an impact on the patient’s clinical treatment and outcome. Breast services have not faced impact.
A serious adverse incidents (SAI) investigation will be conducted to gain further insight into whether the radiologist’s imaging interpretation resulted in death or late diagnoses. The images in question were taken at Antrim Area Hospital, Whiteabbey Hospital, Mid Ulster Hospital, Causeway Hospital, and Ballymena Health and Care Centre.
The article reports that 2,434 images have been reviewed so far and each image is categorised from levels 5 to 1. Five meaning there is no discrepancy, whereas one means a “major discrepancy that could have had immediate and significant clinical impact”. Dr O’Reilly reports that to date there are 12 level 1 and 2 cases. A further 88 images have been classified as a level 3, meaning there was a minor discrepancy but unlikely to have had any impact on the patient’s care or treatment.
It is hoped that the process will be completed as soon as possible and that 1,655 closure letters have already been sent to patients for whom no cause for concern has been identified.
It is believed that the locum radiologist, who worked at hospitals run by Northern Health Trust between July 2019 and February 2020, is no longer working with the healthcare system.
At PA Duffy & Co, we have acted on behalf of various recall patients in Northern Ireland. If you, or your family have been affected by the recall, please contact our clinical negligence team at PA Duffy & Company Solicitors for expert advice.