Home / Health / NHS Trust Admits Patient Harm from Treatment Delays
NHS Trust Admits Patient Harm from Treatment Delays
17 May
Summary
- Hundreds of gynaecology patients faced delayed diagnosis and treatment.
- Patient harm was identified due to administrative and diagnostic delays.
- Staff reported concerns about patient safety and workload pressures.
Dozens of cancer patients and other gynaecology patients at Salford Royal Hospital experienced significant delays in diagnosis and treatment due to administrative failures within the Northern Care Alliance (NCA) Trust. A review of hundreds of patients under consultant Dr. Jim Wolfe in 2024 uncovered instances where vital follow-up letters and test results were not actioned, leading to patient harm.
The NCA Trust has apologized for the distress caused and is offering support to affected patients. However, this revelation comes amidst broader staff unrest regarding patient safety, workforce pressures, and unmanageable workloads in the gynaecology department. A separate NHS England review in December 2024 identified a backlog of over 2,000 letters, delaying treatment for some by at least five months.
Staff have voiced serious concerns to MP Rebecca Long-Bailey about the state of the department, feeling silenced when reporting issues. They report unsafe workloads, rota gaps, and cancelled clinics, emphasizing that patient safety must be the priority. The trust acknowledged patient harm in board papers and is implementing improvements with a new leadership team.
