Sligo and Letterkenny university hospitals are among those affected after the identification of a flaw with records of medical tests in the HSE’s computer systems.
At least 25,000 x-rays, MRIs, CTs and ultrasounds taken across the country since 2011 are affected by the error.
The problem arises because the ‘less than’ symbol ‘<‘, when used in a report, was omitted and is not visible.
It is not known to what extent patients may be affected but an invesigation is underway.
It’s understood the majority of test reports are not affected, including reports sent electronically to GP practices.
Sligo woman Caitriona McGoldrick is a cancer survivor; she has been telling Ocean FM News her personal experience of the anxiety that’s caused when uncertainty arises over tests:
Meanwhile, the HSE says the computer error poses a ‘relatively low risk’ to patients.
Dr Colm Henry is National Clinical Advisor with the HSE:
