Radiology review in final stages

NHS Highland has also been looking at the interpretation of x-rays

A review of work carried out by a Scottish radiologist in Ireland is close to being completed, the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) said.

Cases dealt with by Dr James Murray and others at a hospital in Scotland have also been re-examined by NHS Highland.

Concerns were raised about his interpretation of x-rays.

The consultant worked as a locum at Lorn and the Isles Hospital in Oban and hospitals in north east of the Republic of Ireland.

The HSE said a full report on its look-back review would be available for publication next month.

A spokeswoman told the BBC Scotland news website: "The look-back review is now in the final stages of completion. "As some clinical review work remains outstanding, and in order that a comprehensive report can be produced, the HSE now anticipates that the full report on this look-back review will be available for publication during September 2008.

Louth Meath Hospitals have been in contact with the patients concerned as their review results have become available Health Service Executive

"Louth Meath Hospitals have been in contact with the patients concerned as their review results have become available, and our communication with patients on this matter continues to take precedence over all other updates or public statements."

In June, NHS Highland convened a critical incident team to review information gathered from an investigation into the interpretation of x-rays.

The team's task was to make sure that no patient had an ongoing, undiagnosed disease which should have been picked up at an earlier stage.

NHS Highland said the cases were reported by radiologists based at Lorn and the Isles Hospital in Oban.

The health authority said there were concerns about a "very few" of them.

NHS Highland had earlier announced it was re-examining a small number of cases dealt with by Dr Murray.

He also worked for about six months as a locum consultant at Glasgow Royal Infirmary until 31 March, 2006.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it had not found any serious discrepancies in a review of all its cases involving Dr Murray.