04-08-2025
New HSE data enumerates deaths, disability, and severe harm due to scan errors
Mistakes in reading medical scans have led to deaths, disability, or severe harm to patients at HSE hospitals, new data has revealed.
Figures from the HSE show there were a total of 193 such cases; 24 classed as major or extreme, 67 moderate, and 102 considered minor in the period from 2020 to 2024.
According to the HSE's own standards, major or extreme incidents include deaths and disability, but also take in adverse events or incidents leading to severe harm such as 'permanent lessening of bodily, sensory, motor, physiologic or intellectual functions resulting in long-term incapacity or disability (loss of limb, blindness, brain damage)' or an extended length of stay in hospital greater than eight days.
It can also mean a significant complication or significant permanent disability impacting a person's ability to manage their normal daily routine in the same manner as before.
In total, 34 of the category 1 and 2 cases warranted a review, with 15 of those serious enough to warrant recommendations aimed at improving patient safety.
Aontú senator Sarah O'Reilly said the figures are a 'source of worry for patients'.
'The idea that so many scans are being misread or misreported in our hospitals is a source of worry for patients. Here we have the HSE openly admitting to us that some of these mistakes likely led to death or disability.
Some hospitals in the country are struggling to deliver timely diagnosis and treatments due to outdated machines and equipment. This must be addressed urgently as lives hang in the balance.
'I will be raising this issue in the Seanad when it resumes and a key question I will be asking is whether all patients who were victims of these mistakes have been informed about the mistakes — if the cervical check scandal taught us anything it is the importance of open disclosure and transparency between the health service and patients.'
In the HSE response, Majella Daly, assistant national director at the National Centre for Clinical Audit, said errors and discrepancies in radiology are 'uncomfortably common' but that this does not mean medical negligence.
'Errors and discrepancies in radiology practice are uncomfortably common, with an estimated day-to-day rate of 3-5% of studies reported, and much higher rates reported in many targeted studies. Nonetheless, the meaning of the terms 'error' and 'discrepancy' and the relationship to medical negligence are frequently misunderstood.
'Discrepancies between radiology reports and subsequent patient outcomes are not inevitably errors. Radiologist reporting performance cannot be perfect, and some errors are inevitable.
"Error or discrepancy in radiology reporting does not equate to negligence. Radiologist errors occur for many reasons, both human- and system-derived.'
The HSE response goes on to say that while the National Radiology Quality Improvement (NRQI) Programme 'encourages quality improvement through system-wide feedback and education it does not deal with individual reporting radiologists or individual patients /scans, as personal data is not collected'.
The HSE said it commissions the Royal College of Physicians to provide a Specialty Quality Improvement Programme in Radiology (NRQI) programme which provides a 'structured, national framework for peer review, audit, and quality assurance across 48 public and voluntary hospitals participating in the programme'.
'Regular departmental meetings are held to discuss discrepancies, share best practices, and promote a culture of learning to mitigate the occurrence of discrepancies in reports.'
Last year, the State Claims Agency (SCA) paid out €210.5 million in medical negligence related to clinical care cases.
