Patient tests for pre-cancerous cells incorrectly graded at Drogheda hospital

"June Molloy, the Communications and Public Affairs Manager for the HSE Dublin and North East, said that "in the course of our quality assurance process in the hospital, we commissioned an independent look back of all histopathology slides across various specialties in relation to one consultant, focusing on a period from February to November 2024. "This review is underway and any patients in relation to whom any findings are relevant will be contacted directly by the hospital. HSE Dublin and North East has provided necessary information to the HSE in line with the National Patient Safety Briefing Protocol.""

"A number of patients have been invited to "open disclosure" meetings this week. These meetings are held following a patient safety incident including harm events and near misses. It is believed that a number of patients are being sent a letter informing them the grading of their precancerous cells are being altered following review. In some cases the grading is escalated and in others decreased. In one case a grading of mild has been upgraded to high."

An independent look-back review of histopathology slides was commissioned covering February to November 2024 for one consultant. The review involves examination of biopsy or surgical specimen slides by a pathologist and remains underway. Patients with findings deemed relevant will be contacted directly by the hospital under established patient safety protocols. A number of patients have been invited to open disclosure meetings that follow patient safety incidents, including harm events and near misses. Some patient precancerous cell gradings have been altered after review, with some escalated and others decreased, including one upgraded from mild to high. Communications offices at regional and national HSE levels have been involved in the response and information sharing.

Read at Irish Independent