Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I will be taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney.

The HSE has instigated a look-back review of all chest X-rays and CT scans reported on by one locum consultant radiologist, who worked in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and Our Lady's Hospital, Navan between August 2006 and August 2007. This decision was made following expert clinical advice from Ireland and the UK and an examination of the cases raised. This review is being done as a precaution and as a reassurance for patients.

The look-back review was prompted by concerns that four patients in two Louth and Meath hospitals during 2006 and 2007 had their diagnoses delayed due to an abnormality on their chest X-rays not being noted on initial examination. These patients were subsequently diagnosed with lung cancer by follow-up X-rays and have all passed away.

The Minister was informed in March of this year that the HSE, following further examination of the issue, was considering a separate look-back review regarding the work of that radiologist. The HSE issued a press release on 31 March following media reports concerning radiology services in the north east. That press release was based on the information available at the time. In its subsequent assessment of the situation, and taking into account the advice of external experts, the HSE agreed that the look-back review would include 70 CT scans.

Planning for this review commenced at the end of March 2008. A steering group was formed by the HSE on 9 April 2008 to oversee the radiology review. From April to 14 May, the steering group undertook preparatory work which included defining the methodology for the look-back exercise, sourcing radiologists to undertake the look-back, arranging indemnity for the reviewers, developing the process and resources for the look-back exercise across two X-ray departments in Navan and Drogheda and establishing the communication needs around the review and putting plans in place to meet them.

Chest radiographs are performed for many reasons — most are done for respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, accidents, injuries, chest pain and heart failure. A small number are done for possible lung tumours, but the majority of patients who are being checked are extremely low-risk and are included as a measure of prudence.

Numerous challenges arose throughout this planning phase, particularly with regard to securing radiologists in Ireland who would undertake the look-back in association with the Louth and Meath radiologists. Following a review of options available, including external companies in the UK to undertake the look-back, a decision was made to proceed with an internal-external mixed panel of radiologists from Louth, Meath and Northern Ireland. The look-back review commenced on 15 May 2008 and it is expected that it will be completed within eight weeks. As each X-ray and CT scan is reviewed, the HSE will write to the patient to let him or her know the result of the recheck.

The HSE announced today in a media statement that, in the context of this review and during the last three weeks, two people already receiving treatment for lung cancer were identified to the review team. These people were found to be part of the original group of 4,500 patients to be reviewed. The HSE has advised the Department that, since these two people were identified, the focus has been on checking on their current status and care and assessing their significance in the context of this review. Before contact was made with the families of these patients and information provided to their families, it would have been inappropriate ethically and medically to make any public statement with regard to these cases. The HSE has been making contact with the families concerned since Friday, 16 May 2008 and continues to do so.

The HSE has also advised the Department that information confirmed by a HSE official to public representatives yesterday pertaining to these two cases was not in line with the HSE policy of not releasing any detail of the review or the people concerned until the review process is complete.

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