Queensland Health bosses are working to contact 9000 patients who had scans at a major south-east Queensland hospital after an internal error two years ago resulted in radiology reports not being properly reviewed by doctors.

A change to the internal processes at Caboolture Hospital, north of Brisbane, in April 2023 led to hard copies of radiology reports not being delivered to some of the patients’ treating doctors.

Patients who have not had a follow-up appointment and who have not accessed their results electronically could be in the dark about potentially life-threatening conditions.

The error was first detected earlier this month when a patient presented at Caboolture Hospital’s emergency department five weeks after having a scan, only to be told the scan had revealed 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 said.