The State Claims Agency recently completed a five-year review of claims arising in radiology services. The review included 58 claims finalised during the period 2016-2020. This article presents the learnings from those claims as well as risk management advice to assist those working in radiology services to mitigate the risk of claims in the future.

Diagnostic errors

A diagnostic error can be defined as an error that emerges when a diagnosis is missed, inappropriately delayed, or is wrong.¹ Diagnostic error (missed diagnosis, misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis) was the most common reason for claims, accounting for 71% of the claims analysed, with 93% of these due to missed diagnosis. Fifty-five percent of missed diagnosis claims related to missed fractures, followed by 21% relating to missed cancers. Several of the cancer claims related to the failure to recognise abnormalities on a chest X-ray.

Factors resulting in diagnostic error included misinterpretation or incorrect reporting of radiology imaging findings, and the failure to consider a differential diagnosis. Contributory factors leading to missed fractures included failure to recognise all fractures where multiple fractures were present and failure to perform the requested radiological exam.

Other causes of radiology claims

A further 7% of claims arose in relation to unanticipated complications during interventional radiology procedures, where in some cases the risks of the procedure were not discussed with the service users.

Poor communication with service users was a factor in a number of claims, including the failure to listen to the expressed concerns of the service users about their ability to undergo a procedure.

Seven percent of claims reviewed related to slips, trips, and falls, and two claims related to service users being injured by equipment during a procedure.

How can frontline staff mitigate the risks of such claims occurring?

Based on our analysis of these claims, we provide the following key advice for frontline staff:

• Whilst diagnostic errors, including missed diagnosis, may be multi-factorial or due to human error, consideration should be given to mechanisms to minimise the risk of their occurrence including:
  • peer review/checks for accuracy
  • clinical audit against key performance indicators such as turnaround time
  • repeating sub-optimal imaging
  • review of imaging at multi-disciplinary meetings, where appropriate
  • training in human factors / ergonomics.
• Where a slip, trip or fall occurs, a risk assessment should be conducted to identify hazards that resulted in these incidents and eliminate or mitigate the risk, where possible.
• When communicating with service users and/or their caregivers, ensure expectations are managed; ensure risks and benefits of a procedure are clearly articulated, understood and documented, and that communication is consistent, clear, and compassionate.
• All health and social care staff should be educated regarding the need to report incidents using NIMS, the National Incident Management System, in a timely manner.

References available upon request.

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