Radiology Lookback Review
The Northern Trust is undertaking a lookback review of work carried out by a locum Consultant Radiologist who was engaged by the Trust between July 2019 and February 2020.
The review, which will involve a total of 13,030 images, is expected to be completed by the end of October 2021.
A total of 9,091 patients (or parents/guardians) who may be affected will receive a letter informing them of the review and providing them with a helpline telephone number to call if they have any concerns. We know that this will be an anxious time for people. However, we would like to stress that the images to be reviewed are only those which were reported on by this particular locum Consultant Radiologist over the time period July 2019 to February 2020. The images for review would only have been taken in Antrim Area Hospital, Causeway Hospital, Whiteabbey Hospital, Mid Ulster Hospital or Ballymena Health and Care Centre.
All of the images relating to the 9,091 patients will be reviewed, but based on an initial audit, we estimate that less than seven percent may have experienced a delay in diagnosis as a result of unsatisfactory image reporting. That does not mean that they will all have come to harm as a result but we will be making a further clinical assessment in each of those cases.
Patients who receive the letter do not need to take any action. We plan to run the review and recall stages of this process in tandem. This means that every patient will be contacted again as soon as we know the outcome in relation to their images and for those who may require further imaging or a follow-up appointment, we will make the necessary arrangements very quickly.
As part of the process we will also be reviewing the images of people who had images taken during the period in question and who are now deceased. If we identify any significant errors which could have impacted upon clinical outcome, we will also be making contact with the next of kin of those persons.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have published Frequently Asked Questions. These Frequently Asked Questions have been published in a range of languages.
Arabic
عند الاتصال بخط المساعدة ، ستتوفر خدمة الترجمة الشفوية عبر الهاتف إذا لزم الأمر.
الأسئلة الشائعة
Bulgarian
Телефонен превод ще е на разположение, когато се свържете с линията за помощ.
Cantonese
當您致電幫助熱線時，可提供電話口譯服務。
Chinese-Mandarin (CN)
当您拨打帮助热线时，电话口译服务将被提供。
Czech
Telefonická tlumočnická služba bude k dispozici, když kontaktujete linku pomoci.
Lithuanian
Kai skambinsite į pagalbos liniją, jums bus suteiktas vertėjas telefonu.
Dažnai užduodami klausimai
Polish
W przypadku kontaktu z infolinią dostępna będzie usługa tłumaczenia telefonicznego.
Portuguese
Há um serviço de interpretação telefónica disponível quando telefonar para a linha de apoio.
Romanian
Când apelați linia de asistență telefonică, aveți la dispoziție serviciul de interpretariat la telefon.
Russian
При звонке на горячую линию вы сможете воспользоваться услугами переводчика по телефону.
Slovak
Keď zavoláte na linku pomoci, k dispozícii budete mat telefonickú tlmočnícku službu.
Často kladené otázky
Interpreting Service
If you are deaf and a sign language user, a remote interpreting service can be accessed by downloading the ‘InterpreterNow’ app from the App Store.
Related links
Media Release: Northern Trust announces Radiology Lookback Review
- Follow the Northern Trust
