Queensland Health reviewing colonoscopy procedures at Goondiwindi and Warwick hospitals
Almost 900 patients contacted following audit of private specialist's work between 2023 and 2026
Quick Look
- Queensland Health is contacting 890 patients who underwent colonoscopies at Goondiwindi and Warwick hospitals after an audit questioned whether a private specialist's procedures met clinical standards.
- No evidence of patient harm has been reported.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
An audit of a private specialist's colonoscopy procedures at Goondiwindi and Warwick hospitals between 2023 and 2026 identified documentation gaps.
Queensland Health is in the process of contacting almost 900 patients who had colonoscopy procedures at two southern Queensland hospitals after it was found that a doctor may not have met expected standards of care.
The health department says an audit raised questions about a private specialist's procedures at Goondiwindi and Warwick hospitals between 2023 and 2026.
The quality assurance audit identified 890 patients whose procedures may not have met the expected standard of care.
The specialist is no longer providing colonoscopy services within Darling Downs Health facilities, and a referral has been made to the Office of the Health Ombudsman.
Darling Downs Health acting chief executive Louise Van Every said there was no evidence that any patients had been harmed.
"Some of the procedures performed showed gaps in documentation and did not allow us to be sure the procedures met expected standards for colonoscopy care," she said.
Ms Van Every said the department was being proactive and contacting all impacted patients, despite 92 per cent being private patients.
"To make sure they are aware of the concerns identified and know where to go for appropriate follow-up care," she said.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Office of the Health Ombudsman investigation
Very likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific clinical standards were not met?
- Will the affected patients require repeat procedures?