More problems with prostate tests in SA

More problems have emerged with tests for prostate cancer patients in South Australia after nearly 70 men were incorrectly referred to a specialist.

More problems have emerged over tests for prostate cancer in South Australia with new revelations 68 patients were incorrectly referred to a urologist.

SA Health says the patients were tested between March and April this year and while their tests results were correct, a comment that they be referred to a urologist should not have been included.

The correct course of action for these patients should have been retesting in six to 12 months, chief medical officer Paddy Phillips said on Thursday.

Professor Phillips said the comment under the result was automatically generated and did not match the required action.

"As soon as we became aware of this issue we have taken steps to determine the patients impacted and we're contacting each of their referring doctors today," he said.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise for any concern, inconvenience or confusion this error may have caused to patients or their doctors."

Prof Phillips said the report coding error had been corrected.

The latest issue follows admissions earlier this week that 100 men had received false positive results for prostate cancer in tests conducted by SA Pathology.

Health Minister Jack Snelling has ordered an independent review into the bungle and was angry that he only heard about the errors when contacted by the media.

The SA opposition has called for a wider judicial review into SA Health, suggesting the latest issue shows systemic problems within the department.


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Source: AAP


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More problems with prostate tests in SA | SBS News