In April 2023, a modification to internal procedures at Caboolture Hospital, north of Brisbane, caused hard copies of radiology reports to not be sent to some patients’ treating doctors.

Patients who have neither had a follow-up appointment nor viewed their results online may be unaware of potentially life-threatening conditions.

The error came to light earlier this month when a patient arrived at Caboolture Hospital’s emergency department five weeks after having a scan, only to learn that the scan indicated advanced cancer.

Following that five-week delay in diagnosis, the patient has since passed away. 

Queensland Health Metro North chief medical officer Dr Elizabeth Rushbrook said officials were reaching out to affected patients.

“I do apologise. This is not okay. This is not okay for our system, and we’ve immediately addressed it,” she said.

“We want patients to know, which is why we are here to talk to patients about that.

“If they’ve had a scan and they have not yet had a review, either by their GP or their specialist, then it’s important to do that.”

Health Minister Tim Nicholls is currently on leave, so Premier David Crisafulli was forced to face the media.

He said while the department realised the problem was widespread last week, he and the government only found out yesterday. 

“They must face Queenslanders and explain what they know,” he said.

“Queenslanders deserve nothing short of that, and we’ll be asking questions as well, I can assure you.”

Opposition Leader Steven Miles said the failure prompted more questions than answers. 

“If David Crisafulli can be believed when he says that the government found it out yesterday, well that prompts more questions than answers,” he stated.