Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)

I will call on the Deputies who tabled questions to the Minister for Health and Children in the order in which they submitted their questions to my office.

Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children when her attention was drawn to the fact that there were serious problems in Tallaght hospital, Dublin 24 with regard to the failure to have X-rays reviewed by radiologists; when the Health Service Executive was first made aware of this problem; the action that she took as a result; the steps that are being taken to inform patients whose X-rays were not reviewed; the further steps that are being taken to speed up the review of the outstanding X-rays; the inquiry that will be held to establish the cause of the serious failures at Tallaght hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Health and Children the way she could preside over a situation in which 58,000 X-rays were not read by a consultant radiologist; the action that has been taken to ensure there will be no repeat of this incident which, in itself, is a repetition of other unread or misread X-rays; and the way she proposes to instil confidence in the public in her health service with this level of incompetence and negligence on her part and on the part of those answerable to her.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children the implications for patients of the fact that more than 57,000 X-rays taken at Tallaght hospital, Dublin 24, were not reviewed by a consultant radiologist; and if there will be an urgent review of management and supervision of consultants at this hospital and throughout the hospital network arising from this development

Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will explain the failure to have X-rays read by a consultant radiologist at Tallaght hospital, Dublin 24, from 2005 to 2009; the way she was not informed by the Health Information and Quality Authority; and the reason the authority simply accepted a figure of 41,000 when 58,600 were involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

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