Thousands of patients’ put at risk after NHS hospital fails to book follow-up appointments
Damning report claims thousands are 'highly likely' to have suffered clinical harm after Portsmouth Hospital failed to push for check-ups
THOUSANDS of patients have been put at “serious risk” after missing out on follow-up appointments, a report claims.
It was “highly likely patients have come to clinical harm” at Portsmouth Hospital Trust, the independent probe said.
Some 12,000 had failed to get a check-up or care since 2015, it said. A total of 443 were not seen after a procedure, despite being due a follow-up.
Another 7,870 got a non-urgent referral but only 7,051 were on lists.
Ophthalmology and cardiology were among worst-hit departments.
The probe, seen by the Health Service Journal, also said hundreds had fallen off waiting lists.
A spokesman for the trust said there was no evidence any patients had been harmed.
A Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: “This report has flagged some important issues but there are questions about the entirety of their findings, and these are under interrogation.
“We ensure our patients are prioritised by clinical need and the hospital Trust is committed to providing the very best care for each and every patient.”
Under NHS rules, at least 92 per cent of patients should get routine hospital treatment within 18 weeks.
But the Portsmouth trust has failed to meet the target since June 2016.
NHS head Simon Stevens has admitted delays for routine ops are set to grow as cash-strapped hospitals prioritised emergency and cancer care.
