Most of the mistakes carried little risk to patients but some received a much greater dose of radiation than intended.

In the 14 months from early November 2006 to the end of December 2007, the Healthcare Commission found 329 cases in which mistakes had been made, about a third involving the wrong patient being X-rayed.

The commission said this “indicates a systems failure that has much broader implications for patient safety”.

Their report detailed how errors can occur, including staff failing to carry out a “final identity check” on a patient’s name, address or date of birth. “Sometimes, the wrong inpatient may be collected from the ward and taken to the X-ray department because of inadequate checks made between nursing staff and porters.”

Another 10 per cent involved the wrong body part being scanned.

Of the 66 radiotherapy incidents involving cancer patients, 64 per cent related to a treatment error, including missing the designated site. Other mistakes included writing the wrong instructions and prescribing the wrong dose.

The 329 reports equate to only one in every 88,000 procedures, the report said. “However, behind each of the 329 notifications, there is a patient who has been affected because of a failure in medical procedures.

In the vast majority of cases they will have suffered little or no long-term impact on their health but these are mistakes that could and should be avoided.”

The number of errors reported to the Healthcare Commission under new regulations is almost double those reported to the Department of Health under previous arrangements.

The commission said that this could be down to greater awareness of how to report incidents and access to a web-based reporting system.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article3549342.ece