THE NUMBER of patients in the northeast whose cancer was mis-diagnosed as a result of tumours not being spotted on initial chest X-rays is expected to rise considerably.
To date it has only been confirmed by the Health Service Executive that six patients were mis-diagnosed.
Four of them had lung cancer and are now dead.
However, Fine Gael’s health spokesman Dr James Reilly said he had been informed that a review of thousands of scans announced last month had at this point found that upwards of 50 patients may have had their X-rays misread.
“I’m given to understand that at least 50, if not 150 patients, have had to be called back for further review following examination of their X-rays,” he said.
Dr Reilly plans to question Minister for Health Mary Harney about the new information when she appears before an Oireachtas committee tomorrow.