The HSE says it deeply regrets any distress caused to patients by a recall of 600 people for Bowel Screening.

The patients were contacted after it emerged that a dozen patients were mistakenly given the all-clear, and one patient died.

The Health Minister says human error is to blame after a dozen patients were wrongly given the all-clear after undergoing screening for bowel cancer at Wexford General Hospital.

One man is understood to have died after the misdiagnosis.

A recall of 600 patients at Wexford General Hospital is almost complete, and management says a report on the matter is in the final stages of preparation.

Juliette Gash reports;
In a statement, the Ireland East Hospital Group, which manages the hospital said; 

"The recall of patients that arose from a recheck of Bowel Screen colonoscopies at Wexford General Hospital in 2014 has been thoroughly and comprehensively investigated. Throughout the process, patients and their families have been provided with full information, appropriate follow up and treatment as needed in a timely manner.  The subsequent report and its findings are now in the final stages of preparation. 

The recall was managed in accordance with HSE safety incident management policy. The follow up programme was co-ordinated within the Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG) and involved Wexford General Hospital along with partner hospitals within IEHG including the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and St. Vincent’s University Hospital. 

Once the report has been signed off, it will be sent to all parties referenced within it before it can be published."