23.08.17
Trust hits back at claims that appointments failure put patient safety at risk
Portsmouth trust leads have today hit back at claims that thousands of patients were put at risk after failing to organise important post-surgery appointments.
An independent report by the MBI Health Group, ordered by the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, found that almost 12,000 patients may have been put at “significant clinical risk” as they did not have planned, essential check-ups after undergoing procedures.
The report also said that the trust had a “lack of grip” around the booking of urgent patients, and that it was concerned that the trust’s reported waiting times were not accurate and should be longer.
MBI also stated that more than 800 patients waiting for treatment had fallen off waiting lists, as hospital data showed that 7,870 patients had been referred for non-urgent treatment, but that only 7,051 were on lists – leaving a total of 819 patients unaccounted for.
But in a statement sent to NHE, the trust has hit back at the report’s findings, saying that though it “flagged some important issues”, it believed there were still questions around the entirety of its findings, which are now under interrogation.
“The hospital trust is working closely with system partners, and with the Elective Improvement Support Team (IST), to identify any potential concerns raised, which will be completed by early September,” a spokesperson told NHE. “We will publish the outcomes of any IST findings thereafter.
“We have not substantiated the comments made by MBI that any of our patients have been placed at risk of harm,” they added. “We do have processes in place to assess risk of clinical harm to patients across all specialties, and this is in line with the NHSE Clinical Harm Review Guidelines.
“To provide further assurance, the hospital trust, in collaboration with system partners, has also established a retrospective clinical harm review panel, which follows internal governance framework processes.”
The spokesperson went on to say that it was reviewing planned outpatient waiting lists for the small number of specialties affected, through a medical notes review, or if necessary a clinic appointment.
“Any patient who has been identified as having cause for concern will have been personally contacted and brought in for further assessment at an outpatient appointment,” they continued. “We ensure that our patients are prioritised by clinical need and the hospital trust is committed to providing the very best care for each and every patient.”
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