Serious Incident Investigation Launched At Yorkshire Hospital After Fears Of CT Scan Errors

A serious incident investigation has been launched at Scarborough Hospital after experts identified a 10 per cent error rate in the results from 200 CT scans carried out between November last year and this February.

Hundreds of CT scans are now being re-examined by specialists at Scarborough Hospital after concerns were raised about a series of significant errors, some of which resulted in a small number of patients having their treatment changed when the mistakes came to light.

Results from approximately 600 CT scans recorded by a locum consultant radiologist are being scrutinised during the audit commissioned by York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Experts found a “deeply concerning” 10 per cent error rate in the reporting of results, in an initial examination of 200 scan images taken between November 2015 and February this year. This has led to a full review with scans from the highest risk patients being re-examined as a priority.

Expert Opinion

"These revelations are deeply concerning when you consider that the consequences of an error rate like this could be catastrophic for patients suffering with potentially life-limiting illness.”

“It is very encouraging to hear York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will be conducting a full review of the scans carried out during that four-month period, but it is also important to review how this could have been avoided and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.”

“Patients from that time period now have an agonising wait for answers during what is already likely to be a very stressful time in their lives, so it is imperative that the hospital learns from this terrible situation to prevent further occurrences.” Catherine Slattery - Senior Associate Solicitor

According to the Yorkshire Post, doctors who ordered the checks are being asked to identify any potential harm to patients, with some recalled to discuss changes to their treatment.

The review is scheduled for completion by the end of this month.

A spokeswoman for York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said while a “small number” of patients have been recalled to the clinic to discuss potential changes to treatment plans, during the investigation the Trust has established that for the vast majority of patients there has been no need to change their course of treatment.

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