A review of 46,000 files is underway at University Hospital Kerry after numerous cancer cases were missed or misdiagnosed by a radiologist.
One of the missed cases is now inoperable and an emergency briefing was heard yesterday which will review the 46,000 files belonging to over 26,000 patients.
Three missed cancer cases in July sparked the need for review, with all three been viewed as very obvious cancers. According to The Irish Sun, management then revealed four extra misdiagnoses following questions by Sinn Fein Cllr Toireasa Ferris.
Ms Ferris said: “I spoke to the family of a constituent who had a scan in early summer and as a result of an erroneous report on that scan received a delayed diagnosis for a serious cancer.”
The HSE said that “the consultant radiologist has been reported to the Medical Council who are investigating the matter”.
The hospital still has to review over 28,000 images having started their investigation in late October and hopes to complete it within the next six weeks.
A helpline set up to deal with patients’ concerns over the review and will be open until 10pm tonight.
