SA hospital record tampered with

A patient's records were tampered with at an Adelaide Hospital, a state government investigation has found.

Four SA Health workers tried to illegally delete a Lyell McEwin Hospital patient's radiology record, chief medical officer Paddy Phillips says.

"The attempt to delete the record was completely inappropriate and the four individuals identified as playing a role in this process will be counselled about their actions," Professor Phillips said on Thursday.

The investigation was ordered after radiologist Paul Newbold in July revealed that a report he placed on a patient's record was erased.

He described its removal as "very dangerous and very sinister".

"It's as though it never happened," Dr Newbold said at the time.

But Prof Phillips said while it was clear attempts had been made to erase the report, because of the integrity of the records system, it was not actually deleted.

Dr Newbold also raised concerns at the number of X-rays, scans and ultrasounds that were being left unread following the introduction of a new software system.

The government investigation also considered issues surrounding the new software and determined that a delay in a diagnostic reading in another case had not contributed to a patient's death.