Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is carrying out a major review after dozens of patients received a “miscategorisation” of pre-cancerous cells.
It is understood in some cases the severity of the cancer was increased while others were decreased.
Each of the patients affected were all attending the same consultant.
Details of the emerging scandal were revealed tonight by the Irish Times newspaper.
At least three patients are being informed of their cancer miscategoriation at meetings organised as part of an HSE open disclosure procedure being held at the Lourdes this week.
These occur following a patient safety incident.
But several dozen other patients apart from these three are to be sent letters advising them that the grading of their pre-cancerous cells has been altered following a review, the Irish Times reported.
One patient who was told they had a mild grading of pre-cancerous cells has had their diagnosis upgraded to high while in another case a mild grading was reduced to moderate.
There was a complete review of work carried out by one specific consultant.
The Lourdes Hospital in a statement tonight said:”In the course of our quality assurance process in the hospital, we commissioned an independent lookback of all histopathology slides across various specialities in relation to one consultant focussing on a period from February to November 2024.
“This review is under way and any patients in relation to whom any findings are relevant will be contacted directly by the hospital.”
The hospital review is continuing.
