Recurring IT issues within the laboratory computer system at Cork University Hospital have heightened the risk of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, internal documents seen by the Irish Examiner reveal.

The boss of one of the country’s busiest hospitals has admitted he has no idea what is behind the ongoing computer difficulties that paralysed its laboratory IT system leading to concerns about the quality of patient tests and lost files.

A major glitch in the computer system processing pathology test results in hospitals in Cork and Kerry is causing serious delays in diagnostic services, with patients left waiting and staff struggling to do the work manually.