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Shortage of consultant radiologists in Ireland - RCSI
Saturday 02 May 2015 12.18
The RCSI Faculty of Radiologists says that the demand for services in Ireland is increasing
Ireland has a shortage of consultant radiologists, with just over half the European average.
This is according to the Faculty of Radiologists, of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI).
It said the clinical demand for radiology services is increasing steadily here and these factors have led to high workloads for Irish radiologists,when compared with their peers in other countries.
Is also said that this partly explains why it can be so difficult for some hospitals to find locum cover.
The faculty, which is not a regulatory or employing body, has expressed its sympathy to any patients and their families affected by the recently reported incidents in Bantry, Cavan and Kerry.
It said it launched a quality assurance programme in 2011 which is being installed in HSE hospitals.
Part of the programme involves peer review, where a sample of examinations reported by one radiologist, are automatically assigned for review and double-reading by another consultant radiologist.
It said that the aim of the programme is to ensure that Irish radiology is performed to the highest standard, with accurate, timely and complete radiology diagnosis and reporting.
The faculty said that the HSE's recent substantial investment in a national electronic radiology IT system (NIMIS - the National Integrated Medical Imaging System)and change to a hospital group structure, if accompanied by a well-designed expansion in consultant radiologist numbers, may in future help solve the problems highlighted by the recent incidents.
It said that radiologists may in future be able to work within large networks.
The faculty said that X-rays and scans from smaller hospitals, which are harder to staff, could then be reported by radiologists based in larger centres within the hospital group, to ensure complete cover and provide easy access to expert second opinions.