Harney and Tallaght management under fire over X-rays scandal
The chairman of Tallaght hospital Lyndon MacCann is this morning facing a call for him to consider his position, amid continuing revelations over unread X-rays at the Dublin facility.
Meanwhile Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has said that Health Minister Mary Harney, currently in New Zealand, should be 'fired' and his party would be tabling a motion of no confidence in her if the Taoiseach failed to remove her.
It emerged earlier this week that some 58,000 X-rays were never read by a consultant radiologist at the hospital over a five-year period.
It led to delayed diagnoses for two patients, one of whom has since died while a second is undergoing cancer treatment.
The head of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (ICHA) says that more than 40 letters were written to hospital management about the inadequate number of consultant radiologists at Tallaght.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has also confirmed it was contacted by a GP who had concerns over X-rays at Tallaght last April, and contacted hospital management as far back as May of last year.
Professor Tom O'Dowd, the GP believed to have been the first to voice concern who is also a public health specialist at Trinity College Dublin, said Mr MacCann did not respond to two letters he wrote to him, and he must ask himself if he is the right man for the job.
Junior Minister Conor Lenihan meanwhile said an immediate review of management structures at Tallaght is essential to restore public confidence.
It has also emerged that X-rays are not always examined by a consultant radiologist at a number of other hospitals, and the HSE is now investigating how widespread the problem is.
Meanwhile Labour leader Gilmore is demanding Minister Harney return from her trip to New Zealand to deal with the Tallaght scandal
Minister Harney is on a two-week visit to mark St Patrick's Day, with part of her programme involving visits to hospitals and health facilities in the country.
But Deputy Gilmore said she has to get her priorities right, and then face the music with the Taoiseach.
"Her job is not looking at hospitals in New Zealand now, her job is managing the hospitals and care centres here in Ireland," Deputy Gilmore said.
He also called for Minister Harney to be removed from her position in the Department of Health and said Labour would be tabling a motion of no confidence in her.
Minister Harney's management of the health service has also been called unacceptable by Charlie O'Connor, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South West.
