Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Updated at 10pm
A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL Kerry radiologist who missed or misdiagnosed seven serious cases involving cancer and other serious diseases was a locum doctor and not a permanent member of staff, RTÉ News has established.
The doctor was employed through a locum agency based in Ireland.
RTÉ has also confirmed that the doctor in question worked as a consultant radiologist at the Mater Hospital in Dublin in January and February 2006.
On Sunday, the hospital confirmed that a review is being carried out on 46,000 x-rays, cat scans and ultrasounds after a number of concerns were raised during the summer.
Three cases were initially confirmed to be misdiagnosed during the summer, and the scans review has found that further patients had been affected.
As of yesterday evening, just short of 21,000 scans had been reviewed.
The scans are being rechecked by a number of expert radiologists.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One News last night, Killarney GP Dr Gary Stack said he is reassured that the scans are being rechecked and the number with significant issues is “very minimal, about 1 in 1,000″.
Patients should be reassured, he said, because the review had found “very few significant errors”.
In a statement yesterday, Fianna Fáil health spokesperson Billy Kelleher said that he was concerned that one person, who does not currently work at the hospital, was responsible for reviewing so many scans.
He said: “It’s clear to me that irrespective of their clinical abilities, this is a very heavy workload for any person.
What’s more concerning though is that there didn’t seem to be any oversight of this person’s work, and that there were no checks and balances in place to ensure that mistakes were spotted.
He added that too many people are “anxiously waiting news of their own review” and the sooner it is completed the better.
Labour’s Alan Kelly, meanwhile, said that there must be an analysis of staffing levels in the Tralee hospital and further afield.
“Patients must be assured that when they get a scan that the examination and diagnosis they receive is correct,” he said.
A helpline has also been set up for any patient who may have had concerns. It can be reached at 1800 742 900. It will remain open till 10pm tonight and tomorrow, and until 5pm on Thursday and Friday.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Luckily I doubt Zika could survive in our modest damp wind swept country,
Horrible situation for those in the infected areas,
Hopefully a solution can be found.
Are we at DEFCON 2 yet
Really? Do a google search on the WHO statements re Zika.
Its transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes that have been found in parts of the uk over the past number of years.
In addition they are concerned that a batch of genetically modified mosquitoes that were released to.combat the dengue virus last year are responsible for this outbreak. The scientists working on project advised against the release as upto 4% of mosquito offspring were surviving with the new gene that was supposed to kill them. Despite their warnings the release was given the go ahead.
The epicentre is the same point as the release.
Zika does not usually cause microcephaly either and this is what is concerning them.
Nobody has a clue in other words.
In mid-2012, British biotech company Oxitec released a strain of genetically modified mosquitoes in northeastern Brazil. The Zika outbreak epicenter is in the same area where the GM mosquitoes were released
I Think i read that those GM Mosquitos were released to combat Dengue fever, apparently they were also released in Florida
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/genetically_modified_mosquito_sparks_a_controversy_in_florida/2883/
So the mosquitoes, the carriers, have been genetically modified. I wonder if we will ever be told how much experimentation and modification, genetic or otherwise, has been carried out on the virus itself.
By a company funded by the Bill Gates Foundation….that alone should sound the alarm bells.
After swine flu scaremongering, they can take a run and jump with their warnings
This one sounds deadlier though. Zika? Could be Muslim.
Another “Gift” to the world from America..
2016 Fearmongering Vaccine campaign sets off in full swing compliments of the Mainstream Media.
Yes that’s right Frank what the hell do the WHO know anyway they’re just trying to scare us with lies right? Oh right yeah no.
@ Daniel. He’s talking about disproportionate it is. I can promise you 100% for example that you or noone you know will be affected by this virus… It sensationalism.
WHO Founded on 7 April 1948 add up the date…. 7+4+1+9+4+8 = 33
Who emblem also contains 33 segments…
Why is a serpent that would represent Satan the Devil incorporated into the Who Logo?
Why has the Who Logo got two 13 leaf olive branches on an Israeli Flag Blue back drop?
Lucifer is the 13th unseen member of a twelve witch coven.
How many albums did THE WHO release?
What is your favourite song by the WHO?
People seem to be under the assumption that WHO is a benign charity with no business influence.
Anything but a charity.
They would have you micro chipped in an instant at the right opportunity.
So who declared it???
Maybe if they stop funding mad scientists to create these bloody type of things,the world would be a better place.
Dr WHO is great
Old show was good new one is terrible
Old show was terrible, new one is good.
So this means the West sees this as a threat and is now bothered to do something about it.
And? Do you think every problem in the world is the responsibility of the west to fix? This has been a peculiarly Brazilian problem up to now, they’re hardly an impoverished nation, why couldn’t they deal with it? The failures of Brazil could become the problems of the west, yet you think it is the west who should feel guilty.
It’s about to spread into the US, so it’s a global emergency now.
Microencaphaly afflicts some Irish politicians who have been over exposed to the stagnant and disease laden Irish Water.
It was isis One of the mosquitoes drop his passport
The Wildly Hysterical Organisation is at it again…
have your say