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THERE WAS AN 11% increase in the number of notifications of accidental and unintended exposures to ionising radiation reported to the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) last year.
In 2020, Hiqa received notifications of 76 “significant” such events – an increase of 11% when compared with 2019.
Hiqa said this is “a small percentage of significant incidents relative to the total number of procedures taking place which can be conservatively estimated at over three million exposures a year”.
Medical exposure to ionising radiation is when radiation is used as part of diagnosis such as a dental X-ray or CT scan or the use of radiotherapy as part of cancer treatment at a hospital. It also includes radiation received for medical research purposes and radiation received by carers and comforters while attending a patient.
The most common error reported to Hiqa in 2020 involved medical exposure to the wrong person, which accounted for 34% of all notifications reported. Notifications related to interventional cardiology, mammography and fluoroscopy were also received for the first time.
Human error was identified as the main cause in 58% of notifications received, however reviews of the incidents determined that other factors contributed to these errors in the vast majority of cases.
In 2019, new regulations were put in place to transpose into Irish law the EU Council Basic Safety Standards (BSS) Directive of 2013. Under this legislation, Hiqa is the authority for patient protection in relation to medical exposure to ionising radiation in Ireland.
Speaking about the figures, John Tuffy, Hiqa’s Regional Manager for Ionising Radiation, said: “In 2020, our inspections of medical exposure to ionising radiation found that the management of accidental and unintended exposures to ionising radiation was generally good; however, there is room for improvement in local incident management systems.
“We welcome the increase in reporting in 2020, as it potentially suggests a more open and positive patient safety culture. The increase in reporting is a positive indicator, particularly in the context of the unprecedented additional challenges faced by undertakings during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
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It’ll be like all other government reviews – outcome will be a bunch of recommendations without any accountability for the failures
@Gordon Walsh: And someone will make huge money from carrying out such review.
@Dave Barrett: Yes likely one of the well known consultants whose names are acronyms
A review seems like a reasonable idea. I do think we need to stop making out that every LC student this year has suffered more than any human in history, the language used is way over the top and is unhelpful. Many actually liked not having to do the LC – and who could blame them – and more people are in Third Level than ever before so while some have genuine reasons to feel aggrieved, most got what they wanted or better with the bonus of not having to the LC.
@Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: I feel the tactical repeat leaving certs got screwed – you know the ones who aim to repeat so they can drop certain subjects in favour of others that are easier to A1s in or get better bonus points.
I think we’d all be happy with a ‘simple sorry lads, but we messed up’ than a lengthy and costly review that will yield no meaningful results
Where did the legal advice for this omnishambles come from in the first place ffs.
The terms of reference for this review will be carefully crafted.
I hope there is a proper plan in place for 2021 leaving cert.Already these kids have been seriously disadvantaged missing three full months,sometimes being asked to leave the classroom because there are too many pupils,no parent teacher meetings,having free classes quite frequently,psychologically disadvantaged because they are not able to focus properly because there may or may not be a Leaving Cert exam.So Norma you better start talking about this now before there is another fiasco.
Review,commision.will take years.how long are them poor tuam babies left in the tank now since the government know about it
A shambles comittee investigating another shamble on tax payers money with no accountability on deadline or budget ceiling, give us shout I can do that
Will this included finding out how the contract was awarded?
Dog in pearls
Very suprised there is an independent review while there is ongoing legal action.
Another waste of time and taxpayers money. Calculated grade system was setup for failure and the result could never have pleased everyone… as a nation we would be better served just to move on and make sure LC 2021 goes ahead. Martin has a reputation of loving to commission a review ( see his time as Min of Health). Accounting firms will be falling over themselves to network for this work.
have your say