The Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCHHS) has revealed about 48,000 patient X-rays have not been reviewed by a radiologist.
In what Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg called a “systemic failure”, these cases missed out on formal reporting and diagnostic review by X-ray specialists.
Mr Springborg said the board uncovered the problem last Thursday and immediately referred the matter to the Minister, urging him to appoint an independent expert to review issues associated with the backlog.
GCHHS chief executive Ron Calvert said two Gold Coast patients had been adversely affected, but he would not give details on the severity of the cases.
Mr Calvert said there was a very low overall risk to patients, but acknowledged the situation was unacceptable.
“Most hospitals do achieve this [reporting standard] and we have lagged behind for a very long time,” Mr Calvert said.
Mr Springborg said the “systemic failure” would have continued without intervention by the board.
He said initial inquiries revealed endemic trouble with the reporting network prior to September 2013.
“Today, it is unknown whether the backlog that existed at that time was ever properly processed,” he said.
“This time, because of the patient safety requirements that apply to hospital boards, a failure in reporting in just one HHS has resulted in full disclosure.”
Mr Springborg said he was committed to open and transparent reporting of issues and problems in the health system.
“Unlike Labor, the LNP Government is not about health cover-ups and sweeping problems under the carpet,” he said.
The head of the committee overseeing patient quality and safety, Collette McCool, said GCHHS board members had been aware there was a problem for some time but the magnitude came as a surprise.
“We’ve been advised that it was an issue over the last six months or so but the magnitude of it – we asked for a report actually – the magnitude of it wasn’t realised until last Thursday,” she said.
Mr Springborg said reports from radiologists provided confirmation of the treating physician’s diagnosis and noted whether additional conditions are to be noted.
“This ensures that any condition that appears in a medical image – even those unrelated to current treatment – will be notified to the patient via the health system,” he said.
The Minister said GCHHS had proposed a three-part response to the problem, which would be implemented in full.