Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

X-rays should normally be seen and formally reported by a consultant radiologist. However, since that does not appear to have happened, all the relevant X-rays are being examined by consultant radiologists on a precautionary basis. In the great majority of these cases, the X-rays were seen by doctors involved in their care, such as in orthopaedics where the doctors in the fracture clinic would look at the X-rays while seeing the patient. However, this practice was below appropriate clinical standards.

The CEO of the hospital got involved to clear the backlog following his appointment in December 2009. The CEO arranged for the additional consultants and administrative support. He monitored the situation through weekly progress reports that show the backlog was reduced from 57,921 to 23,169 by 9 March. He now states that the backlog will be cleared entirely by May 2010.

This problem originally came to light in early 2009. It appears that there are two patients who had a delayed diagnosis within this cohort. One of these patients is under treatment in the hospital for cancer. The other patient died at the hospital last summer, and the CEO was only made aware of this yesterday. He is reviewing the file on the cause of death. For any patient who needs a review of a diagnosis as a result of the review of the X-rays, all the necessary services will be made available immediately by the hospital.

The HSE has announced that it is to carry out an investigation into the circumstances that led to the accumulation of unreported X-rays at Tallaght hospital, that is, X-rays not read by radiologists. The investigation is to be chaired by a person independent of Tallaght hospital and the HSE. The details of the investigation will be announced in the coming days. The CEO of Tallaght hospital, Professor Conlon, supports the investigation and the HSE is fully supportive of Professor Conlon and the management team at Tallaght hospital in dealing with the outstanding X-rays.

The Department of Health and Children has worked with the HSE on the development of a serious incident management protocol, and it has guided the clinical management of this issue. This protocol puts patients' interests first and foremost in all actions to be taken. The Minister has provided the accountability mechanisms, such as HIQA, which ensure that where incidents arise, they are properly dealt with.

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