The initial three cases that prompted the review were included among the 11 patients. The four who died passed away between the time in which the delays were identified and the publication of the look-back review.

The audit, however, did find that while patients were exposed to risk, the majority did not suffer any direct harm due to the thoroughness of their treating physicians.


“The distress and worry caused to the wider community by a review of this nature is regrettable,” said O’Callaghan. “However, where patient safety concerns exist, the Health Service Executive (Irish health government agency) and the health services have a responsibility to act; to learn from the perspectives of patients and staff; and to make improvements to the delivery of radiology services. I would expect that the learning from this review will contribute to the improvement of radiology services, not just in UHK, but across all of our hospitals.”

All cases are subject to further ongoing system analysis review investigations, which are being shared with individual patients and their families.

A series of recommendations has been made to the hospital to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future, and an external review of the X-ray department and its management has been commissioned.

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