By Courtney Kruk

Copyright theage

Urology services offered at Townsville University Hospital cover a range of conditions of the urinary tract, including cancers of the kidneys, bladder, prostate and testes.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service acting chief executive Rex O’Rourke said the hospital review identified 11 patients as having gaps in their care, though admitted the total number of affected patients is “unknown at this point”.

“The Queensland Health independent investigation will cover a three-and-a-half-year period. Given this time period, the number of affected patients is unknown at this point, and it is what the investigation is tasked with uncovering,” he said.

O’Rourke said the investigation into the hospital’s urology services was “very disappointing for our community” and sincerely apologised “to every affected patient and family”.