GPs have expressed serious concern about the risk to patients from a large backlog in reporting cancer test results in the South East.
Patient’s diagnosis and treatment for cancer could be delayed by the backlog at the pathology lab at University Hospital Waterford, the doctors have warned.
More than 5,000 patients have endured waits for test results of up to six months as a result of staffing shortages at the lab.
The situation was outlined in The Irish Times, and journalist Paul Cullen spoke to Deise Today earlier.
The Kilkenny branch of the Irish College of General Practitioners wrote to HSE bosses warning of the potential for “avoidable adverse clinical outcomes”, after details of the delay first emerged in March.
A letter from the HSE had promised that the backlog would be cleared in a fortnight.
They apologised for “any inconvenience, anxiety or stress” caused to patients and GPs, and said extra resources had been put in place to clear the backlog, including evening and weekend work at the lab and outsourcing to a retired member of staff.
A spokesman said urgent samples were being prioritised and promised the management team will provide an update when the backlog is cleared.
