The former employee at the centre of a major scans review in University Hospital Kerry worked as a consultant radiologist and has been reported to the Medical Council, the HSE has said.

Earlier this week, the hospital said that it was undertaking a ‘review on a portion of radiology investigations carried out between March 2016 and July 2017'. This is due to the discovery of a number of incorrectly reported radiology images that came to light in July 2017.

Some 46,000 x-rays, CAT scans and ultrasound images are being reviewed as a result.

"As these were serious diagnostic errors, in the interest of patient safety, and as a precaution, a decision was taken to review other radiology investigations carried out during this timeframe.

"The review is being carried out by a number of consultant radiologists internal to and external of the hospital in order to ensure the review can be done within a 16-week timeframe. The review was commenced in October 2017," the HSE explained.

A consultant radiologist external to the hospital group has been appointed to oversee this review.

It has also emerged that the former employee also worked in another hospital in the 1990s and in 2006, however the HSE has said that there are no issues relating to this.

University Hospital Kerry has said that so far, seven serious delayed diagnoses have been identified as a result of the review. It is understood that at least three of these cases relate to cancer.

A helpline for anyone concerned about this will remain open from 9am to 10pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 9am to 5pm on Thursday and Friday. The number is 1800 742 900.