The Local Democracy Reporting Service found a review of a former radiology consultant at Royal Derby Hospital found a 37% discrepancy rate for cardiac MRI scans in an audit of 63 cases.

Dr Gis Robinson, executive chief medical officer at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB), said: ‘We have re-seen and personally apologised to the 120 patients who have needed to be followed up as part of this review, and while so far the investigation has found no significant harm has been caused, we absolutely apologise again to those affected for the emotional impact this has had and for the extended time this has taken.  

‘Though scans are just one of many elements we use to diagnose a patient and variations in how clinicians read them are expected, our investigation has shown our processes were not as strong as they could have been and we have made changes - with scans now being reviewed as part of a multidisciplinary team, and a percentage of scans externally audited as an additional safety measure.  

‘Our priority has understandably been communicating with and supporting those who have been directly affected as we have moved through this process, and we will publish a public report as we normally would once the investigation is complete.'

The trust said as part of learnings from the case, cardiac MRI scans were now only reported by cardiology.

An additional mortality review is taking place into any patient who has died for who the wider review identified a level 1-3 discrepancy of opinion on their scan.

The trust has commissioned an ongoing external review of all cases reported as low harm and said it had proactively informed regulators (NHS England Midlands and the Derbyshire Integrated Care System) of its investigation, processes and handling of the investigation throughout.

UHDB said the individual stopped reporting on cardiac MRI scans in 2020 and no concerns have been found about the individual's other areas of practice.

The individual no longer works at UHDB.