A HEALTH watchdog has found 11,000 X-ray results went unreported at a Worcestershire hospitals trust.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) discovered the shortfall during an unannounced inspection of radiology departments at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT) on Wednesday, July 27.

The inspection took place at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital.

Andrew Short, interim chief medical officer at WAHT, said: "I can confirm that we had an unannounced visit from the CQC on 27 July 2016.

"The CQC had a number of questions and concerns, about a backlog of unreported plain films (x-rays), which were predominantly internally requested routine x-rays, to which we have responded fully.

"Our response included a comprehensive action plan to address the issues raised, and to clear the backlog of unreported x-rays by October 2016.

"The backlog is composed of mainly routine x-rays requested by our hospital medical staff which are then made available to the referring clinician for review and action.

"Historically, these were not reported by a radiologist, and today we have put a new process in place to ensure that those x-rays that need the back-up of a radiology report get it in a timely way.

"There is no backlog of GP requested x-rays, CT, MRI or ultrasound scans. We have always and will continue to prioritise urgent x-rays, chest x-rays and GP requested x-rays, and there is no backlog in these areas."