Tallaght GP letters may have been cherrypicked

THE TEAM examining the failure by Tallaght hospital to process thousands of GP referral letters is investigating whether some letters in respect of patients were cherry-picked ahead of others.

The group, which is headed by former independent senator Dr Maurice Hayes, is investigating why some letters were slit open but not acted upon. One theory being examined is whether letters relating to private patients were referred while letters relating to public patients were left to gather dust. The letters date back as far as 2002.

Board members at the hospital were told on Thursday that of 3,000 letters which were not referred, the largest number were in orthopaedics. However, the failure to open or refer a letter did not in any case lead to an adverse patient outcome.

In a brief statement issued after the board meeting, the hospital said that all unreferred GP letters had been actioned and patients were being actively seen.

Chief executive designate Prof Kevin Conlon said the backlog in unreported X-rays, which reached almost 58,000 at its peak, had been cleared a month earlier than anticipated. No further delayed diagnosis had been discovered, in addition to the two already known about.

Prof Conlon said the hospital had appointed senior personnel to positions in corporate management, human relations and process improvement as part of a process to modernise management at the hospital.

The board was also putting in new structures to improve governance, though a spokeswoman was unable to say yesterday when these would be implemented.

Minister for Health Mary Harney has welcomed the completion of the review of X-rays.