Galway Bay fm newsroom – The hospital group which includes University Hospital Galway and Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe recorded 15 incorrect procedures over the past 5 years.
‘Wrong-site’ medical procedures are defined as operations or surgical procedures ‘on a wrong part of the body’.
Examples of this include surgery on a left kidney instead of a right or a procedure on the incorrect finger on the right hand.
According to today’s Irish Times, the figures for incorrect procedures for State-funded hospitals were obtained through Freedom of Information.
There were at least 63 ‘wrong-site’ procedures at hospitals across the country.
The figure is likely to be higher than 63 as no figures were reported for some parts of the country.
The HSE says despite 63 reported cases, this is against the backdrop of millions of correct procedures.
In 2014 1.6 million discharges were recorded.
The Saolta West/ North-West hospital group, which includes University Hospital Galway, Merlin Park and Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe saw 15 ‘wrong-site’ procedures between 2011 and 2015.
The Irish Patients Association says the figure for incorrect procedures is disappointing and greater vigilance is needed.
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