Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that all X-rays in all hospitals are reported by consultant radiologists; the date that the Health Service Executive audit on the extent of unreported X-rays at hospitals across the State will be completed and published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25807/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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It is critical that learning takes place from all patient safety incidents. My Department has been working very closely with the Directorate for Quality and Clinical Care in the HSE to ensure that this happens.

It is not and has never been necessary for all x-rays in all hospitals to be reported by a consultant radiologist. However, arising from the recent events in Tallaght Hospital, the Faculty of Radiology, in conjunction with the HSE, has developed a national guideline which sets out the circumstances in which it is appropriate for X-rays to be read by a radiologist or by another clinician. This guideline has been communicated to all hospitals and is being implemented. This will require that hospitals develop standardised operating practices and systems for audit. The HSE will also audit the operation of these standardised operating practices in hospitals quarterly in future. The HSE have informed me that the work on the audit is continuing and it is expected that this work will be completed and the audit published in the coming weeks.