'Urgent Statement' Needed From Health Minister Over X-Ray Issue - FF

Fianna Fáil has called on the Health Minister to make an "urgent statement" over alleged "serious mistakes" in potentially thousands of patient X-rays at seven hospitals across the country.

Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher said that Fianna Fáil had 'grave concerns' that information on the alleged mistakes is coming to light through the media, while the Minister for Health and the HSE have remained silent on the issue.

"The fact that people who have undergone X-Rays and scans at these seven hospitals are only learning this news from the media today is extremely worrying. Why was the Health Minister not out in front of this? Why did we have to read about it in the Irish Times and not from Minister Varadkar and his HSE management?" Deputy Kelleher said.

"Given the sheer numbers involved, these potential errors would have occurred over the space of a number of months. I am concerned that just like similar crises in the past, the initial reports and the numbers of patients needing to be recalled may just be the tip of the iceberg. That is why it is imperative that we hear from the Minister and the HSE now. We need absolute clarity on exactly how and when these mistakes came to light, exactly how and when the Minister found out, exactly how many hospitals are affected, exactly what has been done to communicate with all the patients affected, and exactly what action has been taken to address the dangers that caused the problems in the first place.

(MH/CD)