ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The former head of Newfoundland's largest health board is telling a public inquiry that layoffs and staff shortages were a problem around the same time errors started appearing in breast-cancer tests.
The inquiry is looking into how nearly 400 patients from 1997 to 2005 received the wrong results on their breast-cancer tests, which doctors use to decide treatment.
George Tilley, former CEO of Eastern Health, says there was growing pressure on staff as provincial cost-cutting measures led to managerial job cuts.
Tilley, who resigned in July 2007, two months after the full scope of the faulty tests became known, says that meant workload increased for remaining staff.
The inquiry is also trying to determine whether Eastern Health or any other responsible authorities responded to patients and the public appropriately.
