Thousands of x-rays not properly checked in Gold Coast hospitals

With a backlog of work, the last six months have seen the Gold Coast Hospitals and Health Service struggle with the huge amount of work for the Gold Coast and Robina hospitals. In particular, X-rays have not been checked by special radiologists. Usually, X-rays are checked by three different people – radiographers, treating specialists and specialist radiologists. With the last checkpoint left out, this can have adverse effects for patients.

Vital information are being missed

Although missing final check is not a big risk for many, two patients have already suffered problems as a result of the failure. This final check can find something previous checks have missed, often saving lives. This has resulted in the board earmarking 22,000 of the X-rays as a priority in the coming months.

With an allocation of $1.4 million in additional funds addressing this specific issue, it is believed the X-rays will be externally checked as soon as possible to find any errors. Any patients found to have secondary problems will be contacted.

Asbestos related lung diseases

X-rays are used for a wide variety of conditions, including asbestos-related lung diseases. Chest X-rays are a common test for diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma, as it can show things like pleural plaque, pleural effusion and masses or abnormal fluid, all things that can be caused by asbestos exposure. Thorough checks of the X-ray are essential.

If you have received an X-ray at one of the Gold Coast hospitals and are worried about the process, get in touch with the hospital or seek support from a group like the Asbestosis and Mesothelioma Association of Australia (AMAA). It is important to find out as soon as possible if you have an asbestos related disease in order to start treating it and ensure quality of life.