Investigation begins after Townsville urology patients not given test results, follow-up care

ABC NEWS (Australia)

At least 11 patients have been caught up in a healthcare bungle at the largest public hospital in North Queensland. The Townsville University Hospital says the patients, including some who have been diagnosed with cancer, were not provided their test results or any follow-up care.

Transcript

00:00A confronting Monday morning message from Townsville Hospital.

00:07I want to say how profoundly disappointing it will be for our community to hear the news that we're announcing today.

00:17Queensland Health has found gaps and delays for urology outpatients of the hospital and health service.

00:24I offer my sincere apology to those affected.

00:27At least 11, including some cancer patients, weren't provided test results or follow-up care.

00:34All 11 of those patients have been contacted and a clinical plan is in place for each.

00:40An investigation will probe more than three years of the hospital's books.

00:45Executives stressed affected patients had been contacted already.

00:50Cancers have not been missed as part of this process.

00:53Rather, it's around people's test results coming in and responding and making appointments with those individuals.

01:00Local doctors say lengthy waitlists leave patients feeling left in the dark.

01:05And so certainly it's common for GPs to need to resend information or reactivate referrals.

01:11Or sometimes I feel like I'm reminding them that there are patients still there in their community.

01:15An issue that prompts routine re-referrals to hospitals like Townsville.

01:21The bungle was picked up when a GP re-referred to the service in July.

01:26The hospital says it will review its waitlist of more than 800 urology patients.

01:31While Queensland Health launches a task force that will probe urology shortages in North Queensland.

01:38Chloe Chemicki, ABC News, Townsville.

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