ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Two external reports into Newfoundland and Labrador's largest health board have found its laboratory services were beset by a lack of communication, internal controls and specialized staff.
The reviews of the Eastern Health authority, conducted in 2005, were released Wednesday following the discovery last year that more than 300 breast cancer patients were given the wrong results from tests to determine treatment options.
At least 36 of the patients who received incorrect results have since died, though it remains unknown how many died of cancer and whether a different treatment could have helped them.
The health authority is now the subject of a judicial inquiry and a class-action lawsuit.
The two independent reviewers - British Columbia pathologist Dr. Diponkar Banerjee and Ontario consultant Trish Wegrynowski - found a series of technical and professional flaws with Eastern Health's handling of hormone receptor testing.
"Both the technologists and pathologists I spoke with are frustrated with the present situation as there are no clear lines of communication," Wegrynowski wrote.
Wegrynowski also found the laboratory handling hormone receptor tests lacked reference tools such as medical textbooks and access to the Internet.
Banerjee noted a lack of specialized staff and warned Eastern Health was at risk of losing its best pathologists if it didn't improve compensation.
"Unless this 'revolving-door' syndrome is dealt with, it will only lead to deterioration of the quality of staff as you will continue to lose your best people," Banerjee wrote.
Eastern Health officials said they have made great progress with many of the recommendations in the two reports.
The reports were released after Eastern Health lost a court application earlier this month to keep them confidential.
Justice Margaret Cameron is scheduled to start hearing evidence at the judicial inquiry some time this month.
