Colchester hospital accused of severe failings with cancer care

The Care Quality Commission previously explained Colchester hospital personnel feared issues about management would go unheeded. Photograph: Nick Ansell/PA

Severe failings in cancer solutions at Colchester hospital have been identified in an official report which warns that sufferers might have suffered harm as a consequence.

NHS England reviewed the care at Colchester hospital following the NHS regulator, the Care High quality Commission, identified personnel had been bullied and pressured into falsifying details about patients’ cancer care.

The CQC assessment prompted an investigation by Essex police, which is continuing.

The NHS England report, published on Thursday, located failings in the organisation, management and infrastructure of cancer companies.

The shortfalls included “unwarranted delays to diagnosis and treatment” – which the report said, could have endangered patients – as properly as unsafe info and records methods.

“Much more worryingly, the quick overview confirmed the CQC locating that some believe in staff had a lack of self-confidence that concerns would be listened to, borne out by expertise of striving unsuccessfully to do so in the current previous,” the inspection team mentioned.

The assessment found no documented cancer strategy for Colchester hospital university NHS foundation believe in, which was placed in special measures final month.

There was an absence, in many cases, of clear pathways describing the flow of patients via diagnosis and remedy, and there have been concerns with recording and monitoring important information. Personnel faced an “excessive or pressured workload”.

5 of the pathways – for urology, cancer of unknown primary origin, sarcoma, brain and central nervous technique, and skin cancer – were described as specifically problematic.

Recommendations included generating up-to-date pathways, enhancing the handling of details and generating positive cancer services were adequately staffed.

The report was published the day following it emerged that the trust’s chief executive, Gordon Coutts, was leaving. Coutts, who had been on sick leave, expressed regret on Wednesday about the trust’s issues with cancer companies.

The trust’s health-related director, Sean MacDonnell, mentioned the group accepted the report and recommendations in full.

MacDonnell mentioned: “The report identifies a quantity of difficulties in our cancer solutions which are really concerning but which we have commenced to address.

“However, it is essential to stress to recent cancer individuals and their families that the principal troubles are with our processes, which we are determined to put correct, and the report does not query the good quality of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgical procedure for individuals with cancer.”

He mentioned the believe in was sorry for the fret, distress and concern brought on for sufferers, relatives and carers, and that it had presently started out producing enhancements.

Colchester hospital accused of severe failings with cancer care