The Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland is looking to improve patient safety and quality of care through putting clinical governance at the heart of the Irish health service’s new structure. So says a recent report by the HSE on a review of chest x-rays and CT scans reported by a Locum Consultant Radiologist at Louth Meath Hospitals from August 2006 to August 2007.
The review was prompted by a missed diagnosis in a small number of patients who later died from lung cancer.
The review found that 9 people in the care of Louth Meath Hospitals had their diagnosis of cancer delayed by some months as a result of radiological missed diagnoses. The delayed diagnoses had varying impacts on these patient’s care and treatment options, but included lost opportunities in relation to cure prospects, additional life-span and earlier palliative care. The delay in diagnosis led to worry uncertainty and distress for families and greatly reduced the time available to them to come to terms with the serious diagnosis and the impending death of their family member. In some cases this period of uncertainty prevented advance planning for and adjusting to the inevitable terminal phase of cancer. In the cases where a small chance of cure had been denied, by delayed diagnosis, the families concerned would have the added burden of trying to deal with that very difficult issue. This included the tragic impact on a family whose relative lost a major chance of cure for her cancer.
In response to the review, the HSE has initiated a project to enhance clinical governance in the radiological service in the north east hospitals group and therby improve patient safety and quality of care.
Download a copy of the review report here.
